With talks with the Transport Department and Traffic Police on Monday falling through, autorickshaw unions have decided to go ahead with their strike on Thursday. The drivers are demanding the government roll out the GPS-equipped meters it had announced last year.
According to Tamil Nadu Auto Driver Federation (CITU) General Secretary M.S. Rajendran, even though the traffic department had agreed to look into the matter of the increased fines on auto drivers for not following the meter, the unions were demanding that the government issue GPS meters.
The fares need to be altered by constituting a committee with autorickshaw drivers, Government officials and the general public, he said.
On Thursday, the autorickshaw driver unions also plan to take out a rally from Island Grounds and submit a memorandum to the Chief Minister, he said. The traffic police and the transport department are also considering the release of all the vehicles impounded, sources said.
