Pune:
Protesting against the Pune administration's decision to implement compulsory uniform for drivers, nearly 50% of Pune's autorickshaws have gone on an indefinite strike from Sunday.
Members of the city's largest autorickshaw union, the rickshaw panchayat, are also demanding an increase in fare by Rs 1 which was reduced in May 2009 after the fuel prices fell. Autorickshaw unions are also seeking implementation of welfare schemes for the auto drivers since they were service providers.
Autorickshaw drivers took to the streets, blocking other autorickshaws who were not participating in the strike and forced them to join the agitation. There are nearly 49,000 autorickshaws in Pune with legal permits and nearly 25,000 of them are affiliated to the rickshaw panchayat who have gone on strike.
The unions which are not participating in the strike are being forced not to operate their autos by the striking automen, thereby causing lot of inconvenience to commuters.