Auto drivers threaten strike The action led to a strong resentment among the auto-rickshaw drivers who have threatened to go on a strike if the drive against them is continued. On 18 August as many as 350 auto-rickshaws were impounded and another 690 auto-rickshaws on Friday. Besides, 108 cars were impounded for wrong parking. Also, 1,364 challans were issued for various traffic violations and 131 vehicles towed away. The police said that the owners would be allowed to get back their vehicles only if they produced the valid documents. Mehrauli-Gurgaon Road, Old Delhi Road, Wazirpur Road, Sohna Road and near HUDA City Centre metro station are the areas where the drive is being continued. Accuse police of harassing them The auto-rickshaw drivers accused the police of harassing them in the name of streamlining the traffic. “The Traffic Police personnel have been stopping our auto-rickshaws and impounding them without even bothering to check the documents. The drivers are being issued challans for all kinds of violations from dangerous driving to not wearing uniforms. We are not being allowed to get back our vehicles even after payment of challan. Satbir Singh, an auto-rickshaw union president has said, ‘The drive has led to terror among the auto-rickshaw drivers and many of them have gone off the roads causing inconvenience to the commuters. If this continues, we may be forced to go on indefinite strike from tomorrow”. Led by a delegation of more than dozen union members, more than 300 auto-rickshaw drivers met Mr. Khirwar in this connection yesterday afternoon, sources say. Sending a stern message: CoP Mr. Khirwar denied causing any discomfort to anyone through the drive as the auto-rickshaw drivers were offering public service, but most of them were plying with illegal documents. The Police Commissioner added, “We just want to send across a stern message that violation of norms will not be allowed. They can be allowed to get their vehicles back without valid documents. We are also ready to address their grievances if any”. As per an estimate, there are more than 25,000 CNG run autos and 20,000 shared autos in Gurgaon ]]>
