Auto drivers called off their strike on Thursday following an assurance from the transport commissioner G Anantha Ramu that the traffic penalty would be reduced from the present Rs 1,000.
Representatives of the auto drivers JAC called on Anantha Ramu who assured them that a positive decision would be taken in favour of them. Ramu requested the auto drivers to call off their strike as the public were put to a lot of hardships. The commissioner told the auto drivers that since transport minister Botcha Satyanarayan was away and will not be available for the next three days, continuing strike for the next three days would inconvenience the people and wanted them to call off the strike.
The JAC accepted the request of the commissioner and called off their strike. “The commissioner said that the government will take a decision very soon to reduce the penalty for traffic violations. However, the commissioner did not specify the reduction of fine. If it is not acceptable to us, we will resume the strike,” JAC leader B Kiran said.
Earlier, the auto drivers held discussions with transport department principal secretary D Lakshmi Parthasarathy. But, the principal secretary did not give any assurance to them. Later, the JAC leaders B Kiran, Vemula Maraiah, Amanullah Khan and others met the commissioner.
The auto drivers wants the GO 108, which enables levying a challan of Rs 1,000 for breaking signals and other traffic rules violations, be scrapped.