Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (SS)

Mangaluru, Oct 13: Auto drivers have expressed their anger and outrage against the aggregators Ola, Uber and Rapido and have staged a protest against them.

Auto drivers are also protesting electric autos that are plying in the city.

Auto drivers said electric autos have been permitted as a measure meant to generate employment. More than 1,000 electric autos are plying in the city and according to the rules there is no permit required to operate them. Auto drivers allege that drivers without licence are enjoying a subsidy of Rs 70,000 by paying Rs 3 lac to buy an electric vehicle.

Auto drivers said they were not opposing electric vehicles. They have urged the authorities to make the issue of permits mandatory to operate such autos.

Arun Kumar, honorary consultant of auto rickshaw drivers-owners association federation said 15 electric autos have been bought in the name of women but it should be examined if they are really operating the vehicles. He questioned if it was right for the government officials to buy autos on subsidy while they were already drawing a monthly pension.