More than 18,000 auto-rickshaws remained off the roads on Tuesday in Dhanbad as their association of operators launched an indefinite strike on the day. The unions, in their seven point charter, have enlisted a host of demands, including hiking the minimum fare from Rs 5 to Rs 10.

The protesters have also demanded for at least a 50 per cent hike on other fare, demarcation of auto stops by the administration, allocation of routes and fixation of number of passengers on the vehicles among others.

The operators as well as auto-rickshaw drivers also pitched for local arrangements to issue permits for their vehicles by the transport department, and waiver of permit charges when the operations remained suspended during the lockdown.

The agitators, including members from the Jharkhand Pariwahan Mazdoor Union, Jharkhand Pradesh Diesel Auto Mahasangh and Dhanbad Zila Auto Chalak Morcha, staged a demonstration at around 12 noon in the Rangatand area. They claimed that their strike will continue until the administration takes some initiative to solve their problems.

Members of auto-rickshaw unions shout slogans and display placards during their strike at Sramik Chowk in Rangatand, Dhanbad, on Tuesday. Picture by Gautam Dey

Talking to the media after the demonstration, President of the Jharkhand Pariwahan Mazdoor Union Sunil Singh said they have been demanding to fix the routes as the present scenario leads to traffic jams.

“Though the administration had taken some initiatives earlier, the process was discontinued eventually. As a result, both auto-rickshaw drivers and passengers have been facing difficulties,” Singh, a driver by profession, said.

Regarding the price hike, Singh said, “The current rates were fixed many years ago. Since then the price of diesel has increased significantly, resulting in a host of issues. We cannot manage our household expenses due to the skyrocketing prices of essential items.”

“We are demanding a written order from the district administration deciding the maximum number of passengers to be accommodated in the auto-rickshaw. We have been having regular disputes with the passengers and some policemen also penalise us for carrying more than the allowed number of passengers, which is 10 at the moment.”

Jharkhand Pradesh Diesel Chalak Mahasangh president Chotan Singh said that the demarcation of auto stoppages are long-pending, and the drivers face the wrath of policemen for stopping at non-designated spots.

Passengers wait for alternate modes of transport at Station Road in Dhanbad as auto-rickshaw unions call for an indefinite strike, on Tuesday. Picture by Gautam Dey

The strike, called by a joint front of several associations, resulted in an inconvenience for the daily commuters.

Hari Sahw, a businessman who arrived in the town from Delhi, said, “As I was away from the town in Delhi for some time and not aware of the strike, I had to wait for more than an hour for an auto-rickshaw. I had to ultimately hire a taxi for Rs 250 to reach Kartas.”