Rahul Chawla
Dharamshala, April 2
Commercial vehicles with yellow number plates will remain off the roads across Kangra district on April 6 as operators have announced a strike in Dharamshala. Taxi, auto, and bus operators from across the district will gather at Mahatma Gandhi Smriti Vatika to observe a day-long protest. Representatives of various taxi unions have issued an ultimatum to the government and administration until April 6, warning that authorities will be responsible for any inconvenience caused to the public.
On Thursday, union representatives visited the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Kangra to press their demands. Protesting the lack of a satisfactory response regarding the provision of vehicle passing facilities at locations other than Gaggal in Ranital, operators raised slogans outside the DC office.
Ashok Sharma, president of the McLeodganj Taxi Union, alleged that the government has been ignoring their demands. He said operators are currently required to visit ATS Gaggal for vehicle passing, where adequate facilities are lacking. He demanded restoration of the earlier system under which vehicle passing was conducted at 21 different locations.
Sharma said the demands have been raised repeatedly since March 19, but no satisfactory response has been received, forcing operators to call for a strike. He added that auto permits are limited to a 20-km radius, making it difficult for auto drivers to travel to Gaggal for vehicle passing.
He also pointed out that even those drivers who reach Gaggal are not provided proper facilities. He reiterated that if the demands are not met by April 6, commercial vehicle operators from across the district will go ahead with the strike in Dharamshala and may decide on further action thereafter.
