A month after the implementation of new regulations for auto-rickshaws in Dhanbad, which put a cap on the number of auto rickshaw entering Dhanbad town to 2500 from around 10,000, over 100 auto drivers plying their vehicles on the town route staged a massive ‘dharna’ near the district headquarters to protest against the erroneous selection of auto rickshaw to ply in town.

The protestors staged the ‘dharna’ under the banner of Seva Dal Chalak Sangh claiming irregularity in the selection of auto rickshaw from areas to ply in town. They expressed unhappiness over the denial of permission for those previously plying on the town route to continue operating in Dhanbad.

The agitators further claimed that despite submission of all relevant documents demanded by district transport department to get permit, they are being barred from operating in the coal town.

Talking to The Telegraph Online today, Shiv Kumar Sharma, an auto driver traditionally plying on Karkend to Dhanbad route said, “I have been earning around Rs 20 thousand per month by ferrying passengers from Dhanbad to Kenuda before the implementation of auto regulation but ever since the new rules came into effect (September 20) I am earning nothing. I am waiting for the permit to ply on the same route despite submission of all relevant documents sought by district transport office.”

“I am the sole bread earner of my family. My seven-member family was completely dependent on my earnings. Now, I am clueless about how to eke out a living for my family,” rued Sharma. He claimed they would be compelled to submit the keys of their vehicle to the District Transport Office if they do not get permission to ply on the town route as it is not possible for them to ply on remote route like Chirkunda, Tundi or Mahuda which lies over 40 kilometers from the district headquarters.

Sunil Singh, another auto driver operating on Jharia-Dhanbad route said, “No criteria were followed while selecting the auto rickshaws to ply on the town route. The permit has been granted on a first come and first serve basis.” He demanded a comprehensive probe in this regard.

Notably, as per the new auto regulation six routes for auto rickshaw have been divided into parts, which aims to restrict entry of large numbers of auto rickshaws in the coal town.