Mangalore: Auto Drivers Demand More Rickshaw Stands, Stage Protest
Pics: Ramesh Pandith / Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (NM)
Mangalore, May 25: Demanding immediate construction of rickshaw stands and to bring down the recent hike in the price of petrol, auto drivers led by Dakshina Kannada auto drivers' union staged an intense protest in front of the Mangalore City Corporation (MCC) building here and also in front of DC’s office on Friday May 25.
Addressing a gathering of protesters and auto drivers, union president Ivan D’Souza said that there auto drivers have not been provided with a proper rickshaw stand even though they work round the clock.
"There are as many as 5,600 auto rickshaws in the city and only 74 authorized stands are available. Moreover, even those stands lack basic facilities like toilets and drinking water," he added.
"We have pointed out the need for a minimum of 312 rickshaw stands in the city; accordingly, the MCC should notify all those areas," he said.
"Due to concreting and widening of roads, the actual rickshaw parks have disappeared. We had raised the issue earlier too and the proposal was discussed in the standing committee," said Ivan D'Souza.
Apart from auto stands, the protesters also demanded rollback of hike in the price of petrol.
L D Suvarna and Hasan Ali of 'Samanvaya Samiti' also spoke demanding the construction of auto stands in the city.
The protestors submitted a memorandum to joint commissioner Srikanth Rao in this regard. He received the appeal and replied to the protesters demand on behalf of the MCC commissioner.
Rao told the auto drivers that a team was formed to find out the actual need for auto stands. "We evaluated that 241 new rickshaw stands were required in the city. Accordingly, a standing committee was set and the proposal was passed. But due to the upcoming legislative election on June 10, the notification has been delayed. In month’s time we will solve the issue," he assured.
The protestors marched from Urwa grounds and staged the protest in front of the MCC building and continued the march till DC's office where again they staged the protest.
All the auto rickshaws in the city had stopped plying. Auto drivers of all the unions and associations in the city took part in the protest.