The protesters, who took out rally by pushing the rickshaws from Hampankatta Circle to Deputy Commissioner’s Office, demanded a 40 per cent increase in the minimum auto fare with immediate effect.
Committee President U Ali Hassan said that last time when the auto fare was revised, the price for one litre petrol was Rs 50 and now it is about Rs 70. Moreover, the price for LPG has also been hiked by 30 to 40 per cent. The prices of parts and tyres have also increased. The premium for the annual autorickshaw insurance has also increased by Rs 1,000. Hence, the revision in auto fare is inevitable, he said. He said though few roads in the heart of the city have been concretised, many of the roads within city corporation limits are in deplorable condition, affecting the parts of autorickshaws. Inevitable “There is no way other than hiking the minimum fare,” he said.
Subsidise petrol, LPG
Committee General Secretary B Vishnumurthy said the government should provide auto-rickshaw drivers with 5 litre petrol and 5 litre LPG on subsidised rate just like the way the government provides subsidised kerosene to fishermen. The members of DK district Autorickshaw Drivers Associations, Janatha Auto-rickshaw and Vehicles’ Association, Karnataka Rakshana Vedike, Surathkal Auto-rickshaw Drivers and Owners Association, Minorities Drivers and Owners Association and others took part in the protest.