Partial response to auto rickshaw strike call in Ahmedabad; stone pelting on city buses in Kalupur

Ahmedabad: The strike of rickshaws over demand of more rickshaw stands in Ahmedabad city has invoked mix response. While key areas such as state transport bus station and railway station are affected by strike, many other areas continue to have availability of rickshaws in reduced numbers.

The city traffic police is for last few days strongly enforcing no-parking rule following the order of the Gujarat High Court. Vehicles including rickshaws are not allowed to park on road-surface in many commercial localities as they obstruct traffic. The city has over 2 lakh rickshaws. This number is 10 fold more than required number of rickshaws as per the statement of the police commissioner in the high court. As the administration has implied no capping on total number of auto rickshaws, the number is only increasing. In total the rickshaws occupy the space equal to many many cricket stadiums in the city, obviously on road surface (one rickshaw occupies roughly 36 square ft space).

What rickshaw drivers argue is that the police actions affect their business. They can’t park their rickshaw in idle state on roads anymore. They should be given more allotted parking stand. The fact is, there’s no land available for allotted parking for more than 2 lakh rickshaws. It’s virtually an impossible demand.

Meanwhile, some buses of Ahmedabad Municipal Transport Service(AMTS) were attacked with stones during rickshaw strike in wall city area of Kalupur.

Some people arrived at GSRTC bus station in Gita Mandir area choose to hire peddle rickshaw and horse carts to travel to destination as auto rickshaws were on strike.

DeshGujarat