Demanding repair of roads and basic facilities to auto drivers, the auto drivers here staged a protest on Monday.

The protesters took out a autorickshwa jatha on the main streets of the town beginning from Kaimara, and later sent a memorandum to the government through deputy tahsildar Vajrakumar. Auto Drivers and Owners Association President Jagadish Bhat, Secretary Narayan, Vice President Moideen led the protest.

The demands of the auto drivers include: Mahaveera road in Kalasa and Kalasa-Kalakodu road should be repaired at the earliest; all members of the association should be given BPL cards; sites should be allotted to all members in Kalasa; insurance fee of autos should be reduced; minimum fare should be increased to Rs 15.

Public felt the inconvenience as the autos did not operate. Auto drivers from Samse, Hirebailu and Balehole also supported the strike.