Strike to protest Totos

TT, Alipurduar, June 7: Autorickshaw owners in town have called an indefinite strike from tomorrow to protest the plying of Totos alleging that the battery-run vehicles do not have commercial permits from the motor vehicles department.

The Dooars Autorickshaw Owner’s Association, which has around 1,000 members, said Totos were not paying taxes.

Bablu Biswas, the secretary of the association, said: “Almost 1,000 autorickshaws ply in town and they pay revenue. But nearly 200 Totos are running without valid papers. Police take action against autorickshaw drivers if they do not have licences. But the administration does not take any action against Totos. We demand that the administration give Totos papers and collect revenues from them or stop the plying of Totos in town.”

Sources said Totos had been running in Alipurduar for the past eight-nine months and the autorickshaw business had been hit. While the minimum fare in an autorickshaw is Rs 7, the lowest fare in a Toto is Rs 5. For 6km, an auto charges Rs 10. A Toto charges Rs 7 for the same distance.

Prasanto Das, the secretary of Dooars Toto Owner’s Association, said: “Alipurduar municipality has given us registration along with numbers. The main problem with auto-rickshaw owners is that local people prefer Totos. That is why they are against us.”

Jagannath Bhor, the regional transport authority officer in Alipurduar, said: “Totos do not come under the Motor Vehicle Act. So there is no question of giving any paper or registration. Many municipalities have given them registration as rickshaws.”