Indefinite auto bandh in city from January 17

Hyderabad: Telangana Auto Drivers’ Joint Action Committee (JAC) has announced an indefinite ‘Auto Bandh’ from January 17 in the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad demanding that the proposed ‘My Auto is Safe’ project by the city police is postponed till such time that the existing auto fares are not increased on a par with the neighbouring states. Also original auto RCS books and permits are not being returned by private auto financiers to their respective owners.

The third important demand was that the State Government should consider and issue necessary guidelines to the private financiers, so that their harassment was stopped forthwith. TADJAC convener Mohd Amanullah Khan has alleged that the decision of the City Police to implement the above project was one-sided as they have neither consulted the Auto Drivers Union in this regard nor have they taken the practical problems and difficulties of the auto men into account before taking the decision. City Police Commissioner Anjani Kumar, while announcing the project complained that the auto drivers were charging above the meter fares and wanted them to carry passengers as per the meter rates. Khan regretted that there was no increase in the existing auto fares in the city for the last five years despite protests, due to which, the auto drivers in the twin cities were not able to carry passengers as per existing meter rates Rs 20 minimum fare and Rs 11 per km.

Amanullah Khan said the Ola and Uber cabs were “looting” the passengers in the name of “surge pricing” day and night and there was nobody to question them. Why these cabs are exempted from the “My Vehicle is Safe” project?, he asked the police authorities. He clarified that they were not against the project. He appealed to the Auto Drivers in Twin Cities to participate in the proposed indefinite Auto Bandh from January 17 and make it a grand success.