Morung Express News
Dimapur | May 11
Autorickshaws drivers were on protest mode today crying foul over the recent directive from the Regional Transport Authority, Dimapur limiting seating capacity, while prohibiting the practice of accommodating passengers beside the driver.
The drivers estimated to be around a hundred in number stopped plying and began to publicly express their resentment on the road. According to the police, the drivers began their protest near the Dhansiri bridge by stopping and asking other autorickshaws to stop plying and join them. As the police intervened, the protestors later relocated to the Burma Camp junction to culminate at the Dimapur-Chumukedima autorickshaw parking lot.
The police maintained that the drivers can protest but not through the means of stopping others and creating road jams. On the whole, the protest was over the RTA directive, which practically diminished per day earnings; the undercurrent however was over alleged random imposition of monetary penalty on defaulters of the directive. As per some autorickshaw drivers, since the directive came into force on May 1, the frequency of fines has increased, while it was further alleged that there has been no uniformity on the amount imposed.
The protestors disbanded after it was informed that the Dimapur District Autorickshaw Drivers Union (DDADU) will be taking up the matter with the Deputy Commissioner later in the afternoon.
The DC when contacted maintained that since it was a directive of the RTA, the district administration alone cannot decide. “(However) If they have any specific concerns, it will be taken up,” said the DC, while adding that the matter will be discussed at an RTA meeting scheduled on May 12. While stating that DDADU executives are also scheduled to attend the meeting, the DC said that the standing RTA directive was taken after taking into consideration the views of the DDADU.
