While the effect of the auto strike was partial in Mumbai, commuters in Mira Road and Bhayander bore the brunt of the stir. However, in Thane, the problem was not much for commuters.
Application-based taxi services and some of the autorickshaws that plied on city roads despite the strike on Wednesday fleeced commuters left, right and centre. The best part of the day was motorists coming to social media to share rides and roads being relatively empty due to a large number of autorickshaws staying off them.
While the effect of the auto strike was partial in Mumbai, commuters in Mira Road and Bhayander bore the brunt of the stir. However, in Thane, the problem was not much for commuters.
The entire day people shared rides through car pooling after having tweeted their travel plans. According to Raxit Sheth of Smart Mumbaikar, who was coordinating to assist citizens through pooling, the most demanded or car-pooled office areas were SEEPZ, Bandra Kurla Complex, Lower Parel and Nariman Point. During the evening hours, the hottest residential areas were Thane, Borivli, Bandra, Mulund and Navi Mumbai.
"I was overcharged by an auto driver who took Rs30 instead of the usual Rs20 up to Ghatkopar station," said Roy Jacob, a resident of Ghatkopar.
Aggregators or mobile application-based taxi services too did good business due to the absence of autos. Uber announced that they will not over-charge, but there were instances of Ola charging more than usual.
The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport Undertaking (BEST) plied 225 extra buses throughout the day.
Officials of Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) said that passengers were not much affected due to the auto strike. But still airlines arranged for car-pooling to facilitate passengers' commute to the airport. "Private car owners or fleet cab passengers were asked to accommodate other passengers if they were going in the same direction," said an airline spokesperson.
After withdrawing strike at 5pm, Shashank Rao of Mumbai Auto Rickshaw-Taximen's Union said, "Our meeting with the transport commissioner was fruitful and our views would be considered before a policy is formed on app-based taxi services. There will be another meeting next week to take the issues further."
During the day, transport minister Diwakar Raote travelled in autorickshaws between Borivli-Vile Parle and Sion-Ghatkopar.
Bullies tried to enforce strike
While the auto strike on Wednesday affected commuters, some drivers came to their rescue. However, there were bullies who tried to enforce the strike. An incident at Grant Road (West) brought the issue to light. Narrating her experience, a student of SYBMM said, "I took a share taxi and was headed for my college. At Grant Road, suddenly these two men came and told me and my fellow passengers to get off. They also took the driver's keys forcefully and were doing the same to other taxis in the area which were plying. Owing to this I missed an important lecture."
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}