HYDERABAD: Members of the Telangana Automotors Drivers Trade Union (TATU) filed a public interest litigation in the High Court on Thursday, seeking direction to the principal secretary (transport), transport commissioner and additional commissioner of police (traffic) not to restrict plying of autorickshaws with a seating capacity for three passengers and registration numbers AP 28 and AP 29 (Ranga Reddy district) from entering the Greater Hyderabad city limits. The petitioner, TATU president V Maraiah, urged the court to declare the government’s action as illegal and irrational.
“The owners and drivers of autorickshaws concerned, who include educated and unemployed youth, were put to irreparable loss due to the restriction as most of them purchased the vehicles by availing loans. There are about 2,000 members who are registered with the union,’’ he said.The petitioner said these (AP 28 and AP 29) autorickshaws had been plying in the twin cities, particularly on Lingampally-Mehdipatnam, Ameerpet-Hitec City-Lingampally, BHEL-Bowenpally and Uppal ring road- Secunderabad routes for 10 years.
The ban not only deprived the autorickshaw owners and drivers of livelihood but also inconvenienced the commuting public, he said.