50,000 autorickshaws off roads for day-strike

Chennai, Oct 29 (UNI) Over 50,000 autorickshaws were off the roads as part of a day long strike to protest the government crackdown on violations by drivers.

Most of the protesting auto owners and drivers were members of the Centre for Indian Trade Unions (CITUs).

The stir was to demand the immediate release of all the autos impounded by the authorities and an end to the crackdown on autos with tampered meters.

The agitation was also to protest against the Government Order making digital meters mandatory.

About 2,000 drivers staged a demonstration near the Memorial Hall as part of the protest.

The yellow coloured autorickshaws are the second largest mode of public transport in Chennai city after the state-run bus services.

But most of the auto drivers refuse to go by the meter fare and fleece the customers charging exorbitant fares.

UNI