Autorickshaw drivers threaten stir from August 24

Days after protests by cab drivers and delivery agents associated with ride hailing and delivery apps, the Telangana State Auto Drivers JAC on Wednesday released a charter of 14 demands, alleging that the State government’s policies had proved counterproductive to the livelihoods of autorickshaw drivers. The JAC announced an indefinite strike from August 24. Among its key demands was a ban on bike taxi services.

The demands were the outcome of deliberations among autorickshaw drivers’ unions held earlier in the day. The unions sought sought a waiver of traffic challans, maintaining that steep fines had adversely affected their livelihoods.

The JAC claimed that autorickshaw drivers have been bearing the brunt of the government’s policy push to promote electric vehicles and demanded a rollback of the policy. The move, coupled with the alleged unchecked operation of bike taxis, has severely affected the earnings of autorickshaw drivers, it maintained.