Autorickshaws in the city went off the road from Tuesday midnight protesting against GO 108, which prescribes a minimum penalty of Rs 1,000 for traffic violations, instead of the earlier Rs 100. As many as 1.60 lakh autos will be on strike, said Venkatesh, general secretary of auto driver unions JAC, here.
Union members will burn copies of the GO at different auto stands in the twin cities and a rally of auto and mini-truck drivers will be organised from Baghlingampally to Indira Park.
Venkatesh said there is lack of proper parking space in the city and when auto drivers park their vehicles for a short while, be it while picking up passengers or dropping schoolchildren, traffic police click photos and send challans for Rs 1000 to their homes.
“In a day, if an auto driver earns Rs 800, Rs 600 goes for rent, petrol and other expenses. So, in the end he makes only Rs 200. In this situation, how are we supposed to pay thousands of rupees as penalty?” questioned Venkatesh.
He said union representatives met transport minister Botcha Satyanarayana three days ago and he promised to arrange a meeting with the principal secretary and traffic commissioner to discuss the problem. “However, nothing has happened till now, he said.
If the government wants to implement the GO, they should not treat autos and transport vehicles on par with other vehicles, but should reduce the fine for them, Venkatesh said.
Moreover, challans are sent to homes by traffic police. As most of the home address of the drivers are not permanent, challans don’t get delivered to them and they are caught off guard on roads by traffic police who seize vehicles for not paying the fines. “How are we suppose to pay `3000-4000 if our vehicles are seized?” asks Venkatesh.
