Title - Auto strike troubles students, rail and bus passengers

NAGPUR: Commuters in the city faced severe hardships on Thursday as autorickshaws went off roads with major unions joining the strike called by Three Seater AutorickshawChalak Joint Action Samiti. Among the worst-hit were people arriving at railway stations, bus stops and school students.People carrying luggage were stranded at railway stations and bus stands since early morning. Also, students and senior citizens had a difficult time as they were forced to walk to their destinations. Parents of school going children had to drop off and pick up their wards at the school leading to huge traffic jams at all major schools.Ramesh Bahekar, a businessman, who arrived at Nagpur railway station this morning, said, "I was shocked to learn no autorickshaws would be available due to strike. The government needs to intervene in such cases and see that public transport services remain functional. The strike has forced me to change my plans for the day."

Engineering student Prapti Yamalwar, a resident of Wardhaman Nagar, said, "I had to sacrifice an hour of my study time to catch the bus and reach my college in Hingna. Spending two hours travelling in bus on the day of submission and examination was not something I had anticipated."

Senior citizen Vaibhav Gajbhiye, who lives in Chhaoni, said, "Thursday's strike forced me to reschedule my visit to the hospital. Like me, there could be hundreds who suffered. Senior citizens like me are not able to travel in public buses."

There were also many autorickshaw drivers who chose not to participate in the strike. Instead, they could be seen making a killing by asking for exorbitant from passengers. When this correspondent tried to hire an autorickshaw from Railway Station to Wardhaman Nagar, a driver asked for Rs 300 and refused to travel by meter.