Thaindian News

Chandigarh, April 14 (IANS) As the autorickshaw strike called by various unions in Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula continued for the second day Tuesday, putting thousands of commuters to hardships, the union territory administration proposed to create a uniform corridor policy in the tricity to reduce traffic hazards and pollution.
“Under the policy, it was proposed that 500 LPG run autorickshaws each from Punjab and Haryana would be permitted to enter Chandigarh and an equal number would be allowed to ply from Chandigarh to Mohali and Panchkula,” official spokesperson said.

The decision was taken at a meeting attended by senior officers of Punjab and Haryana.

Everyday over 1,000 autorickshaws each enter Chandigarh from Panchkula and Mohali but all of them are on strike since Monday to protest the impounding of non-LPG vehicles by Chandigarh administration.

“The administration has also given time till Aug 31, 2009, to Punjab and Haryana to countersign 500 LPG driven auto-rickshaws that will enter into Chandigarh. Till then the ongoing programme of impounding of auto-rickshaws from Punjab and Haryana has been deferred,” said the spokesperson.

However, this decision of the administration was accepted by autorickshaw drivers with mixed response.

“We would not end our strike in the tricity as we want the administration to first convert their own buses and cars to LPG. Everyday they are issuing new permits to diesel-run taxis but then nobody is thinking about pollution,” said Kamal Kant, chairman of an autorickshaw union.

A section of autorikshaw drivers has, however, announced end to the strike.

Joginder Pal Singh, chairman of Mohali Autorickshaw Association, said: “We have ended our strike as it was creating a big trouble (to commuters).”