Members warn of intensifying protest
PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
The Doon Auto Rickshaw Union has threatened to intensify its agitation if authorities concerned fail to address its long-standing demands soon. They said this after union members, along with many CNG auto drivers, marched towards the chief minister’s residence on Tuesday. The protesters were stopped by the police near St Joseph’s Academy.
Union president Pankaj Arora stated that they have been raising their demands for a long time but the authorities have yet to take any action on these issues. On Tuesday, about 2,000 auto rickshaw owners and drivers took out a protest rally. The protesters raised their demands along with slogans at the police barricading. They submitted a memorandum outlining their demands to the city magistrate who met them at the protest site.
Arora said that among their six long-standing demands, they are calling for an immediate halt to the commercial operation of two-wheelers on online platforms, as these vehicles are negatively impacting CNG auto rickshaws. Additionally, they are demanding that the registration of electric auto rickshaws be suspended for at least 10 years to prevent further increases in their numbers. They also seek an expansion of the permit radius for auto rickshaws from 25 kilometres to 40 kilometres or permission for auto drivers to transport passengers to and from Dehradun airport.
Arora further stated that e-rickshaws currently operating on main roads should be restricted to local streets, as outlined in the government’s gazette notification. The memorandum also includes various other demands related to fitness centres and others. He further informed that following the submission of the memorandum, the city magistrate assured that these issues would be communicated to the regional transport office. Apart from this, the city magistrate also assured them that discussions concerning their demands and potential solutions will take place within 15 days with the RTO.
He added that if no action is taken on their demands within two months, they will escalate their efforts and plan to hold a ‘Chakka Jam’ in the districts where auto rickshaws operate throughout the State.
