BHUBANESWAR: Autorickshaws stayed off the City roads on Tuesday as operators resorted to a day-long strike to press for their demands of formulation of a policy and creation of adequate facilities for them.The autorickshaw drivers and operators staged a demonstration at PMG Square seeking what they termed as due recognition as a vital mode of public transport. They rued that though more than 60,000 autorickshaws ply in the State with more than five lakh people using them on an average daily, there were no required facilities for them. “There are no designated parking lots and instead they are harassed and fined for violations,” Subash Singh of the State Autorickshaw Federation said.While autorickshaw operators alleged police excesses against them, the latter said that all actions were directed at bringing order on the roads. Efforts have been made by the Commissionerate Police to educate the auto drivers and streamline traffic. Auto parliament was held involving drivers, operators and all stakeholders while awareness programmes were also organised for them. “We would not compromise on enforcement of traffic laws. The action and penalty against violators would continue. The efforts have yielded results as 50 per cent of the three-wheelers have fallen in line,” asserted a senior police officer.
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