Auto Strike Update: Unions call off strike, to meet CM Fadnavis today
The union leaders will meet CM and Transport Minister Diwakar Raote at 3 pm today to discuss their demands, which include hike in fares, crackdown on illegal autos, ban on services like Ola/Uber, among others (Representational Image)
Autorickshaw unions called off their state-wide strike on Monday after Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis agreed to hold a meeting and discuss their demands.
Auto drivers had earlier threatened to go on a strike from Tuesday in support of their demands, which included a hike in fares, crackdown on illegal autos, ban on services like Ola and Uber, among others.
However, on Monday, CM Fadnavis intervened in the matter and agreed to meet with the representatives of auto unions in Mumbai, following which the leaders called off the strike.
The meeting, expected to take place today at 3 pm, will be chaired by the CM and attended by State Transport Minister Diwakar Raote.
Shashank Rao, chairman of the Autorickshaw Owner-Operators Organisations Action Committee, said, “We feel that there will be an amicable solution to our several demands. Hence, we have decided not to go on a strike on Tuesday.”
“Earlier, we had planned to observe strike but now we have changed our mind. Along with an upward revision of fares, the autorickshaw unions have demanded a ban on app-based taxi services,” he added.
The unions have also demanded mediclaim and pension schemes for rickshaw operators.
Meanwhile, the state transport department has given its nod to civic transport undertaking BEST to reduce its minimum fare to Rs 5, a move aimed at improving ridership on short routes which are also served by autorickshaw.
The new minimum fare will come into effect from July 9.
