The streets of Ranchi wore a deserted look on Sunday as most auto-rickshaws remained off the roads following a strike call by operators opposed to the district administration's crackdown on vehicles plying without permits.
Though it was a holiday, a number of commuters had a harrowing time getting from one end of the city to another.
However, a breakaway faction of auto-rickshaw operators did ply their vehicles.
Important thoroughfares like Kishori Yadav Chowk on Ratu Road, Jail More Chowk, Lalpur Chowk, Kantatoli Chowk and Sujata Chowk remained near-empty through the day. "I have been waiting for an auto-rickshaw for the last 20 minutes to go to Chandni Chowk," said Sheela Khalkho, a commuter who could be seen waiting with her daughter at Jail More Chowk.
In the absence of proper public transport facility in the state capital, auto-rickshaws are the lifeline of residents. Ranchi Municipal Corporation has been given nearly 70 buses by the Centre to improve public transport under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission, but only 55 buses are on the roads at present, too few for Ranchi's needs.
On a usual day, nearly 4,000 auto-rickshaws ply on Ranchi roads, and of them, only 2,500 have valid permits.
On Sunday, only about 1,200 auto-rickshaws ran on different routes.
"I want to go to Bariatu doctors' colony to see a doctor. I have been looking for an auto-rickshaw for the last one and a half hours," said Patna resident Sudhir Kumar, as he stood on Kishori Yadav Chowk near Ratu Road.
Meanwhile, Jharkhand Pradesh Diesel Auto Chalak Mahasangh president Dinesh Soni said the district administration had to stop the crackdown on vehicles running on city roads without valid permits.
He said the strike would continue till that happened.
A breakaway faction of the mahasangh, which is opposed to Soni's leadership, however, ran vehicles as usual.
Sunil Kumar Singh, general secretary of the second group, said Soni's faction was creating confusion among auto-rickshaw drivers.
"That group does not have valid permits for any of its auto-rickshaws, hence it has called the strike. In fact, they should remain off the roads, strike or no strike. But, in this confusion many auto-rickshaws with valid permits too did not ply on Sunday, but will be back on the roads from Monday," said Singh.
"The district administration had given an opportunity to all auto-rickshaws to apply for permits. Those who did not take the opportunity want to run their auto-rickshaws. We cannot allow them, because it would be against the rule," said city and traffic superintendent of police R.K. Prasad.
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