Auto union threatens indefinite stir

Auto union threatens indefinite stir
D H News Service, Bangalore:


The Adarsha Auto and Taxi Drivers’ Union has threatened to go on an indefinite strike from February 1, if the government does not revise the auto fare to a minimum of Rs 15 and per kilometre to Rs 7.50.

The union has served an ultimatum to the government to resolve the issue of fares within the next seven days.

Addressing reporters on Wednesday, Adarsha Auto and Taxi Drivers’ Union president M Manjunath said, while the rate of auto LPG has been increasing every month, the government was looking the other way. Autorickshaw drivers were forced to bear the excess amount of Rs 50 to Rs 60.

Justifying their demand for the fare revision, he said the drivers were paying more than Rs 40 for LPG and oil.

He has also asked the Weights and Measures department to initiate action against LPG dispensing bunks.

“Though we purchase LPG from Indian Oil, Hindustan Petroleum and Bharat Petroleum, the bunks collect charges for 15-16 litres of gas, while the gas tank fitted in autos can accommodate only 12 litres,” he alleged.

Not confirmed

The Adarsha Union claims to have a membership of more than 12,000 auto-drivers. The other major autodrivers’ union, the Autorickshaw Drivers Union, affiliated to CITU has however, not confirmed its participation in the strike.
RTA to meet today

The Regional Transport Authority and the Deputy Commissioner, Bangalore Urban will meet on Thursday, January 17, to consider the issue/demands of automen for a upward revision in minimum auto fares.

REVISION OF AUTO FARE

Autorickshaw fares were last revised based on the prices of petrol in the City, with effect from October 29, 2002, when the prices of petrol reached Rs 38 per litre.

Later the government, in consultation with the Regional Transport Authority (RTA-Bangalore Urban), use of LPG as fuel was made mandatory for auto-rickshaws instead of petrol to reduce vehicular pollution. Subsequently, various auto unions had represented for an increase in fares citing additional expenditure incurred to install LPG kits.

The RTA discussed these aspects with unions on December 13, 2005 and resolved to constitute a committee to study the demands of the unions and submit a report to consider revision in fares.

The committee constituted under the chairmanship of the Deputy Commissioner of Police (East) submitted its report on January 31, 2006, recommending a marginal increase in fares.

The RTA subsequently revised auto fares to the minimum of Rs 12 with effect from March 15, 2006 subject to the condition that the next revision would be considered only after the price of auto LPG was increased above Rs 40/litre.

Highlights

*Revise minimum fare to Rs 15
*Fare per km should be Rs 7.50
*Union claims it has over 12,000
autodrivers as members
*CITU has not confirmed
participation
*RTA to meet today