Auto unions vent their ire, RTO mum
The price rise in petrol has caused a severe blow on autorickshaw drivers. More than 10,000 autorickshaw drivers in Dakshina Kannada claim that they are struggling to make both ends meet due to price hike of essential items.
“There is a 20 to 30 per cent increase in autorickshaw spare part prices. The tyre rate which was Rs 640 has now become Rs 970. The oil price has increased from Rs 160 per litre to Rs 260.
The insurance premium has also increased by 20 per cent. The price rise in government transportation tax and basic necessities have made life truly difficult,” complains Federation of Karnataka Autorickshaw Drivers Union (FKADU) General Secretary L T Suvarna to Deccan Herald.
“The members of FKADU have already staged a demonstration and submitted a memorandum to the District Commissioner’s office on July 23. The minimum fare should be increased from Rs 13 to Rs 16 and the per kilometer rate from Rs 9 to Rs 11. The waiting and luggage charge should be hiked up to 15 per cent respectively. If Regional Transport authority (RTA) does not meet our demands in the upcoming meeting, we will stage Sathyagraha,” says FKADU District President Sunil Kumar Bajal.
Counter strike
“When petrol price was hiked to Rs 56.44 per litre in 2008 the auto fares were hiked from Rs 11 to Rs 13. When petrol price decreased to Rs 45 in January 2008, the rickshaw drivers did not reduce the tariff. At present, the petrol price has increased to Rs 56.76.
Hence, there is no much marginal differnece in the present and the 2008 price. The autorickshaw drivers always demand a hike when there is a sharp increase in price,” claims a source in the RTO.
He questions whether it is only the autorickshaw drivers who suffer due to price rise. If so, what about other common citizens?
RTO opinion
“We have already written to Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) to get some details on petrol price after which the RTA consisting of Deputy Commissioner as President and other officials along with the public heads will discuss and come to a conclusion about rickshaw tariff hike. The meeting may take place in August,” says In-charge RTO and RTA Secretary Seva Nayak.
