Auto rickshaw strike- commuters suffer to reach their destinations.

Mangaluru, January 29:  All the three wheeler’s remained off the roads as the 24 ­hour autorickshaw strike was called here from Tuesday midnight, to demanding the reconsideration of fares by the Regional Transport Authority.

The union’s have decided to continue the strike for another day due to failure of talks with the authority on Wednesday, January 28^th.

Passengers, who had arrived into the city were unaware of the strike and suffered inconveniences to reach their destinations. The situation turned worse at Mangalore Junction Railway Station where autorickshaws are the only means of public transport.

Meanwhile, the district administration and the Transport Department have reportedly urged taxi operators to make local trips from railway stations to help the passengers. Many taxi operators thus offered their services to passengers who were affected by the strike.

Michael D’Souza, leader of an autorickshaw drivers’ association who was present at the protest meet at Mangalore Central, said that if the RTA did not withdraw its fare revision order, the unions would continue with the strike.

He said, while the fares were hiked in December, 2012; the RTA waited for over two months after the demand was made and enhanced the fares following fare revision in Bengaluru.

The Dakshina Kannada Regional Transport Authority on Wednesday warned autorickshaw drivers of legal action if they did not follow the January 9^th notification that reduced the fares.

RTA Member ­Secretary and Regional Transport Officer Afzal Ahmed Khan said in a release that a meeting to persuade operators to reduce the fares on Wednesday was not fruitful. He has warned that, the Transport Department and the police would initiate stringent action against operators who refuse to follow the notification.

He has revealed that, tomorrow onwards, the city buses plying from Kankanady via Hampankatta will be asked to move through railway station in order to avoid inconvenience to the passengers moving to and from the railway station. The taxi drivers were also informed to charge a reasonable fare, he said.