Autos to go off roads today; KSRTC to run additional buses

Even as Deputy Commissioner C Shikha has convened a meeting of regional transport authority (RTA) on January 7, a section of autorickshaw drivers have decided to go ahead with the strike from Sunday midnight.

However, as an alternative arrangement Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has decided to ply additional buses for the convenience of the service users.

Of the 13,000 odd autorickshaws plying in the city, 50 per cent among them are expected to be off the roads on Monday, demanding the revision in auto fare from Rs 20 to Rs 25 and condemning the hike in per kg price of auto LPG from Rs 55 to Rs 66.

Though there are 13,000 odd autorickshaws in the city, there are differences in opinion among them, with not all joining the strike call.

C N Premmohan Jatty district president of Mysore District Sri Kuvempu Goods and Passengers Autorickshaw Drivers Committee on Sunday said that the members would go ahead with their protest. It will begin with the rail block. The Bangalore bound Tipu Express train will be stopped at the station at 11 am. Earlier to this, the drivers and owners will take out a rally from KSRTC sub-urban bus stand to the railway station. It will be followed by a meeting with Deputy Commissioner Shikha where the officer will be requested to stop the issuing of auto permit till the demands are met.

Divisional Controller of KSRTC (Urban) H C Ramesh told Deccan Herald, following a requisition from Police Commissioner M A Saleem KSRTC has decided to ply additional five buses to every route within the city.

Preference will be given to those railway passengers, for whom pre-paid counters at the main gate and the second gate is the only source of public transport. Five buses will be stationed from early morning hours. On normal days, KSRTC runs a fleet of 465 buses for city service, covering 6,506 trips every day.

Meanwhile, a faction of autorickshaw drivers and owners led by Sreenivas Mitra have decided not to join the strike.