KalingaTV News Network
Bhubaneswar: Road transport was badly hit and commuters had a tough time across the state starting from the morning today, following a 12-hour dawn-to-dusk strike call given by auto-rickshaw and taxi unions under the aegis of All Odisha Taxi and Auto-rickshaw Federation.
Around 1.25 lakh auto-rickshaws and 12,000 taxis plying in the state remained off the road during the strike as protestors took to streets demanding revision of passenger fare and social security benefit for them.
In state capital Bhubaneswar, the members of All Odisha Auto Chalak Mahasangh took out a rally from Master Canteen Square to AG Square and are scheduled to submit a charter of demand to the State Government later in the day.
In Cuttack, hundreds of commuters remained stranded at various key points of the city including Badambadi Bus Stand, Link Road, OMP Square due to non-availability of auto and taxi. The Auto-Rickshaw Mahasangh also held rallies in the Millennium City and demanded immediate reduction in fuel price as well as declaration of a policy for cab services like Ola and Uber.
However, as a small relaxation for the commuters the auto-rickshaw service was made available by Cuttack Mahanagar Auto Mahasangh free of cost for the patients and their relatives at bus stands in the city to carry them to hospitals. However, the service was made available by the Mahasangh at only three places in the city.
“Odisha Government should put pressure on the Centre to keep the oil price under control. Auto service has been badly hit by the steep rise in oil price over past few months. Similarly, the Odisha Government should take appropriate steps to bring the service under GST and must withdraw all other taxes imposed on the three-wheelers immediately,” said Padman Samal, General Secretary, All Odisha Auto Chalak Mahasangh.
Kalinga AI