29 April,2015 04:22 PM IST | | A Correspondent
Hundreds of auto rickshaws in Thane city went off the street on Wednesday morning to protest against online permit availability and also to press for demands that included govt taking action against private mini buses
Thane: Hundreds of autorickshaws in Thane city went off street on Wednesday morning. The strike was called by the autorickshaws union to press for their demands which include abolishing rule that states that an autorickshaw driver must be a Maharashtra resident for 15 years to be eligible for a permit, making permits available online and taking action against private mini buses which ply on city roads.
Due to the strike, office goers had a harrowing time in reaching their workplaces. Poor civic transport service in the city forced many to rely on share autos to reach the railway station. City buses were overcrowded and people were desperately seen looking for autos.
"The city bus service in Thane is not up to the mark, as services are not frequent. Due to which I rely on share autos to reach station. I will be late to work today because of the strike," said Santosh Wagh, a local.
However, very few autos were seen plying on the roads. The rickshaw stand at city's railway station area, which is usually packed, had a deserted look with heavy police bandobast.
Many commuters who had come from long distance journeys had to wait for a long time to get autos.
