Auto Rickshaw drivers of the city staged a protest outside the Collector’s office on Monday, claiming that the traffic police is allegedly panelizing them on the name of no parking or for not carrying registration certificates of their vehicle, even when they are carrying it with them.

The protesters, who gathered outside the Collector’s office on Monday protested by shouting slogans against the Government and its policies.  They also presented a Memorandum to the Superintendent of Police and ADM city under the banner of Lal Jhanda Tempo Chalak Union through which they intend to make the Administration aware about their problems.

A rally was organized from Town Hall, which was led by Ex Corporator of UMC and CPM leader Rajesh Shinghvi.

While talking about the their problems, Singhvi claimed that the Administration is promoting the Smart City concept for Udaipur, at the cost of the deprived classes such as Auto Rickshaw drivers.  He also said that these days police is penalizing them on one reason or the other even though most of them were not found liable for any penalty.

He also suggested that by contracting elevated roads and over bridges the traffic can be managed properly but our administration is working like that doctor which gives medicines of Malaria to that patient who is suffering from Typhoid.

While addressing the crowed CPM Secretary Mohan Lal Khokawat said that Auto Rickshaw drivers are the most deprived and illiterate section of the society.  Their job is to be a cheap means transport for the public as per which they play their part in society and also earn their daily beard.

Khokawat also said that auto rickshaw drivers were being penalized in the name of parking their auto rickshaws in ‘no parking zones’ or being handed over Challans and also their vehicles being seized in the name of not carrying complete documents of their vehicle while on the road.  He warned that this is resulting in a lot of frustration and may lead to a violent situation for which the Administration will be held responsible.\

On the other hand, Munnavar Khan, President of Majdoor Ekta Union in his statement, said that all the auto rickshaw drivers also want that traffic conditions in the city should improve.  AS a first step towards this, administration can allot fixed spots on the road side for Auto Rickshaw drivers where they can park their vehicles and can contribute in the efforts of the administration towards proper management of traffic.

On the other hand the Sub Inspector of Traffic Department Goverdhan Singh said that they were making Challans of only those Auto Rickshaw drivers who were found without complete documents of their vehicles or those who were found without permit or found running their vehicles on the routes other than permitted.