Autos and taxis stay away, commuters left stranded

Commuters had a harrowing time in the scorching heat and the bandh in the Capital on Thursday. Many were charged high fares by the few autorickshaws that were plying.

Demonstrators stopped buses, pelted stones at vehicles and blocked roads in several areas, particularly near AIIMS and Khanpur in South Delhi; Akshardham temple, Lakshmi Nagar and Preet Vihar in East Delhi and Vikas Marg near ITO.

Metro services in Chandni Chowk and Karol Bagh were also disrupted for a few hours in the morning.

Though vehicular movement was not affected, a large number of autorickshaws kept off the roads during the day.

"I paid Rs 150 from Defence Colony to Connaught Place. The few autos that were running quoted exorbitant fares for small distances. Since I had no other option, I agreed to pay Rs 150,'' said an executive, who works in Connaught Place.

"No auto driver was willing to go by the meter and I had to pay Rs 100 from India Gate to Rajghat,'' said Asha Verma, a student.

Rajinder Soni from Bharitya Mazdoor Sangh claimed that a majority of autorickshaws and yellow-black taxis took part in the bandh.

All Delhi Auto Taxi Transporters Congress Union president Kishan Verma said while they did not participate in the bandh, autos and taxis mostly started plying after noon as vehicles were being stopped and vandalised at several places.

Meanwhile, DMRC said there were no disruptions of Metro services. "One person tried to stop the Metro train at Chandni Chowk, but he was immediately removed by CISF personnel,'' said a DMRC spokesperson.

The Metro ridership did not see a rise due to the bandh. A ridership of 12.91 lakh people was recorded till 8 pm on Thursday as compared to 14.51 lakh on Wednesday.

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