Scores of passenger auto-rickshaw drivers on Saturday held a protest demonstration in mini-secretariat Bandipora demanding relocation of auto-stand to the previous place.
According to reports, some days ago district administration repeated the auto stand from Gulshan Chowk Bandipora to new bus stand Nusoo to avoid traffic jams in main market Bandipora.
The auto drivers association has gone on strike for last couple of days demanding shifting of the auto stand to the previous place as the new bus stand is located bit far from main market Bandipora.
“We have to drive more than 4 kilo meters as against our permit route of 2.5 kilometers within municipal limits of Bandipora because our stand has been shifted from original place to new bus stand Nusoo, ” said Imtiyaz Ahmad, an auto-rickshaw driver.
He said that from last couple of days we are on strike as district administration has shifted the stand to a farther place which causes inconvenience to both passengers as well as auto rickshaw drivers.
The protesting drivers said that a passenger has to walk 1 kilometer on foot to reach Nusoo bus stand and then board an auto which becomes cumbersome for him.
“From last couple of days we are on strike and this is our only means of livelihood and when we don't earn anything out families will starve. We urge the authorities to relocate the auto stand to it's previous place which is centrally located, ” they said.
Meanwhile, an official of the district said that the auto rickshaws we're the main reason behind huge traffic jams in main market Bandipora as they would block link road and main road as well.
”To avoid frequent traffic jams and provide relief to the general public we had to shift the stand to new bus stand Nusoo. And when the auto stand was shifted there is no traffic jam in main market Bandipora since then,” he said.
He also said that keeping in view the livelihood of these auto drivers we have asked them to identify a place another than Gulshan Chowk where new stand can be established for them.
“If they identify a new place other than Gulshan Chowk we will certainly look into their genuine demands. We will also consider their suggestions but there is no point shifting the auto stand to it's previous place as this is the main reason behind traffic jams in main market Bandipora, ” he said. (KNO)