GUWAHATI, June 29 � The 24-hour chakka bandh, called in protest against the increase in the prices of petroleum products, today upset normal life of the commuters, who are dependent on the public transport system. Most of them either stayed indoors, abstaining from going to work, or were badly hit by the exorbitant fares charged by the auto-rickshaw operators. Even the rickshaw-pullers were found exploiting these people. The school-going children and the office-goers were among the worst hit sections of the people.
The bandh was called by the All India Road Transport Workers� Federation and the All Assam Motor Transport Association (AAMTA) and was supported by many of the associations connected with the business of operating commercial vehicles.
The AAMTA, through a memorandum to the State Government�s Transport Department, has demanded steps to increase the fares of the commercial vehicles in Assam, including the city buses, to cope with the rise in the fuel prices.
With no city buses plying on any route and limited number of auto-rickshaws and rickshaws on the road, thousands of the commuters stranded in various city areas since this morning. Frustrated, many of them had to return home and some others had to cover the distance between their workplace and home on foot.
�We did not place any demand for hike in the city bus fares for past six years despite the fact that prices of petroleum products have increased several times besides a steep rise in the prices of rubber products like tyres, tubes, iron parts, glass, lights etc. Considering the above circumstances, we request steps to hike the city bus fares by at least 80 per cent over the prevailing fare,� the letter from the AAMTA members to the Government said.
�The auto-rickshaws charged unbelievable fares in the name of the bandh. With water logging still persisting in many areas due to yesterday�s rainfall, the situation worsened beyond control,� said Nidhi Sarma, a resident of Birubari area.
�Our daughters could not attend their classes due to the bandh. Considering the possible hazards during the bandh period we asked them to abstain from classes today,� Noori Rahman, a resident of Gandhibasti area said. Many of the schools having their own school-bus services, also did not record full attendance. Private vehicles, however, plied normally on the roads.
Our Correspondents add:
NALBARI: All modes of commercial vehicles were off the road including the all important NH-31 due to the chakka bandh call given in protest against the latest hike in the prices of petroleum products in the country. No untoward incident was reported from any part of the district till the filing of this report.
BAIHATA CHARIALI: The chakka bandh passed off peacefully in Baihata Chariali and its surrounding areas. The bandh was almost total on NH- 31 and 52 including on the busy Ramgaon-Nagrijuli PWD Road. Plying of passenger buses, trucks, trekkers etc., was not witnessed during the bandh time except ambulances and private vehicles. No untoward incident has been reported from any part of the area till the filing of this report.
TINSUKIA: The activities at Tinsukia market, which is more or less dependent upon the neighbouring tea gardens, Arunachal Pradesh and other industrial towns like Digboi, Duliajan, Margherita etc., almost came to a halt today due to the chakka bandh call given by various motor vehicle organizations. Public buses, oil tankers and trucks were totally off the roads of the district during the bandh period. A few auto-rickshaws and private vehicles were seen plying on the roads. However, no untoward incident was reported from any part of the district.
