COIMBATORE: To register their protest against the recent hike in petrol price, autorickshaws here went on a strike on Tuesday, causing much inconvenience to commuters.
Most of the autorickshaws drivers responded to the strike call given by the Federation of Coimbatore District Autorickshaw Workers’ Unions (affiliated to CITU), and kept off the road on Tuesday. The Federation also said that its members would stage a road blockade on May 31.
On the other hand, the hassled commuters, left with minimum option, turned towards call taxis. “Buses were too crowded and a few autos that were seen on the road were fleecing. Though, I booked a call taxi two hours before it reached my place only an hour after my scheduled time of departure,” rued Sugandha Barathi, a medical intern in the city. However, autorickashwas’ loss was seen as call cabs’ gain.