Auto-rickshaw operators throng Aam Bagan grounds in Sakchi on Monday. Picture by Bhola Prasad

Two massive demonstrations by auto-rickshaw operators on Saturday and Monday before the district collectorate over new permit rules, prohibiting diesel autos on Jamshedpur roads, has snowballed into a transport nightmare for two lakh commuters of the city.

On Saturday, around 500 three-wheeler operators, led by JVM district chief Firoz Khan, took out a rally from Sakchi Aam Bagan grounds and blocked the road before the district collectorate for nearly an hour.

On Monday, the protest swelled thrice the size as over 1,500 auto rickshaw drivers held a massive demonstration in front of the district collectorate. The agitation, held under the banner of Sikshit Berojgar Tempo Chalak evam Sanchalak Sangh, was led by Jamshedpur (West) MLA and Congressman Banna Gupta.

With auto rickshaw operators taking to the streets, commuters had to brave the scorching sun and wait for private buses and a few odd JNNURM city buses.

Baridih-resident Sampa Guha, a nurse with a private health clinic, had to wait for nearly 15 minutes before she got a town bus for her workplace in Sakchi.

“I always prefer autos as they reach my destination without delay. The frequency of buses is such that one has to wait for at least 10 minutes to get one,” said Guha.

General secretary of Sikshit Berojgar Tempo Chalak evam Sanchalak Sangh Shyam Kinkar Jha said he was aware of transport woes of commuters but argued operators had no option other than protesting the administration’s moves.

“We had asked auto drivers across the city not to operate between 10am and 2pm and join the rally. We wanted East Singhbhum administration to realise that the whims of transport officials won’t be tolerated. We know commuters are suffering but we had to take the path as the issue is related directly to our livelihood,” Jha said.

There are around 22,000 autos on city roads, plying from 16 authorised stands and ferrying over two lakh commuters daily.

Regional Transport Authority (RTA) permits issued from November 2012 stipulated diesel autos with seating capacity of five could not ply in areas under a municipal corporation or notified area committee. This has enraged a vast majority of auto-rickshaw operators.