Rickshaw drivers intensify demands for more stands

Rickshaw drivers intensify demands for more stands

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, May 25, 2012: The Mangalore Mahanagara Auto Rickshaw Chalakara Sangha, the DK District Auto Rickshaw Drivers’ Association, the Karnataka State Auto Rickshaw Drivers’ Federation, the Minorities Auto Rickshaw Drivers’ Association, and the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike jointly organized a Mangalore City Corporation (MCC) chalo program on May 25, Friday to bring the attention of concerned authorities to their need for more auto rickshaw stands in Mangalore.

Ivan D’Souza, president of the Mangalore Mahanagara Auto Rickshaw Chalakara Sangha, said that, although Mangalore has over 5,600 auto rickshaws, the government has notified only 75 stands. He urged the MCC to set up over 300 permanent auto rickshaw stands in all its wards.

He also said that the stands should be well-built with interlocks and required barricades. 

L. T. Suvarna, CITU leader, said that the MCC must also provide toilet and drinking water facilities to auto drivers. Although the MCC commissioner had earlier promised to satisfy all these demands, no facilities have been provided so far, he said. 

The protestors submitted a memorandum to Shrikanth Rao, the joint commissioner of the MCC. In response, Mr. Rao said that the issue will be discussed at the next standing committee meeting. 

Auto rickshaw drivers also took part in a padayatre from Urwa Stores to the DC’s office. They stopped briefly at the MCC office.