Rickshaw drivers call off strike
Jigar Hindocha
Pune: The rickshaw drivers who went on strike have called off the action on Monday evening after receiving an assurance that authorities will take action on the bike taxi app.
If action is not taken till December 10, the auto rickshaw associations will strike again.
As per the order of Guardian Minister Chandrakant Patil, Haveli Tehsildar Trupti Kolte came to the protest site and met the rickshaw drivers. After the assurance of Kolte, the rickshaw drivers have called off the strike.
Keshav Kshirsagar autorickshaw driver said, “We had received very good response to the strike as all auto rickshaw associations supported the strike and we can see PMPML were jam packed. Under the guidance of Chandrakant Patil, Guardian minister, one team will be formed who will take action against bike taxis.
Baba Shinde, President of Maharashtra Vahan Chalak Malak Pratinidhi said, “Taxi bikes have no official permit, if any passenger sits on the bike and an accident happens then one will not get any insurance. If the number of these bikes increases then the autorickshaw drivers who are paying tax will suffer and their income suffer. Our demand is to ban these app based taxis.
State transport commissioner Vivek Bhimanwar said, “There are several states where bike taxis have been given legal permission. In Maharashtra too operating companies have submitted to the state government but there is no decision taken over it yet. We will continue to take action against illegal taxis”
“If the bike taxi app is not closed by December 10, the rickshaw drivers have warned that they will protest again,” said Vinod Langote, Auto Rickshaw driver.
