Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (SP)
Udupi, Feb 11: Hundreds of auto rickshaw drivers converged in front of the office of the district deputy commissioner at Manipal on Monday February 10, and staged a protest demonstration, urging revision of auto fares.
They demanded for the upward revision of minimum fare to Rs 25, and for fixing of additional fare thereafter at the rate of Rs 16 per km. The programme was held under the aegis of Udupi District Auto Rickshaw Drivers and Owners Association.
The auto drivers have been demanding hike of one rupee per km as against Rs 15 fixed by the regional transport office here. They said they expect this revision to be adopted at the meeting of the Regional Transport Authority scheduled to be held on February 22, and warned of expanding the scope of this protest to the entire district in case this expectation does not materialize.
President of Karkala Auto Rickshaw Union and advocate, Balakrishna Shetty, called upon 15,000 auto rickshaw drivers in the district and their family members who he said account for a voter strength of over 30,000, to boycott the coming Lok Sabha election in case their demands are not met. He felt that this united action has the potential to force the government to sit up and take notice.
Former MLA, Raghupati Bhat, zilla panchayat president, Upendra Nayak, Udupi Sharada Auto Union president, Sudhakar Shetty, and several other leaders addressed the protestors. A memorandum listing out the demands was handed over to the district deputy commissioner, M T Reju.
Leaders hailing from various towns and villages across the district took part in the protest.