Auto-rickshaw drivers go on indefinite stirke

Auto-rickshaw driver of the city today went on an indefinite strike here to press for their demand of increasing the age-limit of plying of autos and tempos in the streets.
Drivers went on an indefinite sit-in protest near the old bus stand flyover, said Dilshad Ahmed, district president of auto rickshaw drivers union.
Earlier several memoranda were submitted before the district magistrate and the regional transport officer but they did not heed to any of their demands, he alleged.
The drivers are demanding that the transport department must allow plying of auto-rickshaws for 15 years instead of 8 years and for tempos 10 years.

The demand for depositing a one-time road tax for a period of 10 years is not ethical as the financial position of auto drivers is not sound enough, Ahmed said, adding, it should be deposited on an yearly-basis.
Regional Transport Officer (RTO) Mayank Jyoti said that the department is working in accordance with the state government's directive which stipulates that new three-seater auto-rickshaws will be registered to ply for 8 years only.