KOCHI: The stand-off between the prepaid autorickshaw-taxi drivers and app-based cab aggregators at Ernakulam South Railway Station and North Railway Station continued on Thursday too.
The auto and taxi drivers at the South Station have decided to go on a hunger strike from Friday joining their fellowmen at North Station who are already on a hunger strike demanding that the issue be resolved.
The hunger strike at the North station entered the second day on Thursday
while their strike crossed 21 days. The strike at South Railway station has been on for the past two weeks. The prepaid auto-taxi drivers of both stations are boycotting the prepaid counters at the stations. While Ola is allowed a kiosk at South Station, Uber is operating a kiosk at North station.
The auto-taxi drivers continued to offer their services from the premises of the railway stations but are firm that they will boycott prepaid counters until their demands are met.
“Around 340 auto drivers and 60 taxi drivers earn their livelihood by working at the South station. The Railways’ arrogant and indifferent attitude to these workers is inhuman. We have been working here for decades. We are charging according to the rates fixed by Justice Ramachandran Committee in 2014, i.e., Rs 20 for auto and Rs 150 for taxi services.
App-based taxis are deceiving commuters. We don’t have a problem with them taking passengers from here but we will not allow them to open kiosks and enjoy parking stations here,” said Francis P.J., INTUC district secretary.
The Railways sought the District Collector’s and police’s intervention to solve the logjam. The police helped app-based taxis to operate. “Unions cannot threaten the online cab aggregators. It is the Railways’ nationwide policy. It is a case of maintaining law and order. They cannot ask for ID cards and certificates from app-based taxi drivers. The Collector has issued necessary orders. It is solely the passenger’s decision as to choose which kind of service they need,” said R Harikrishnan, area manager, South Railway Station.
Meanwhile, the Private Bus Owners Association and Motor Vehicles Association are together planning to stage a protest march to the South Railway Station in support of the striking drivers on Friday.
