RAJ KUMAR
Ranchi, Feb.13: Commuters suffered in the Jharkhand capital as auto rickshaw services remained suspended on five major routes to protest against ‘illegal’ collection from auto rickshaw drivers on the road.
The five routes included Ratu Road- Birsa Chowk, Ratu Road-Nagri, Ratu Road-Mandar, Ratu Road –Kanke and Bariatu to Jaquir Hussain Park.
The protest was organised by the Ranchi Zila Autochalak Union.
Organisation’s general secretary Sunil Kumar Singh said the illegal collection is done under the patronage of Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC).
The amount collected, Singh said, is Rs 25 each at ITI bus stand, Khadgarha bus stand, Argora Chowk and Ratu Road while Rs 20 at Sadar Hospital.
General Secretary of Ranchi Diesel Autochalak Sangh Dinesh Soni, however, rubbished the allegation saying there is no illegal collection.
“Those authorised to collect stand charges are collecting charges. As stands have been auctioned at a high price due to connivance of some of the auto rickshaw union officials, the stand charge is high. Apart from this, four auto rickshaw unions running in the city also collect charges from auto rickshaw drivers,” Soni said.
Puja Kumari, a resident of Birsa Chowk, said she had to walk to reach her workplace in Argora. Mukesh Kumar, a resident of Kishoreganj said he had to use a pink rickshaw to reach Argora at his friend’s residence.
Anand Masih Lakra, a resident of Peepar Toli, said all including the union, police, auto rickshaw drivers and Ranchi Municipal Corporation are responsible for illegal collection and common people should come forward to regulate auto rickshaws in the city.
“Auto drivers do overloading. Traffic personnel collect charges to allow overloading, The Union collects its cut to continue illegalities. RMC takes advantage of chaos to collect stand tax though there is no facility in any auto rickshaw stands across the city for passengers and drivers,” Lakra said.
