Commuters affected as autos go on strike in Mumbai

MUMBAI: Thousands of autorickshaws went off the roads in Mumbai suburbs today to protest the operations of private taxi aggregators and rise in permit fees.

In order to minimise inconvenience to passenger, state transport commissioner Shyam Wardhane has issued directives allowing private cars, buses and other vehicles to operate as "public transport" today.

"This is being done for the convenience of commuters, specially office-goers, in view of the strike," an official said.

Shashank Rao, Leader of Mumbai Autorickshawmen Union which has called the strike, said, "We are opposing the operations of private cab aggregators (like Ola, Uber) and also the increase in permit fee to Rs 15,200. If there is any inconvenience to commuters, the state government will be responsible."

He claimed that nearly 90,000 autos were off the roads today.

The strike inconvenienced scores of commuters as many office-goers depend on autos on the share routes to ply to the railway station daily.

The police are on alert to ensure there is no law and order problem.