Strike by auto drivers disrupts traffic

By S. Shivakumar

CHENNAI,JUNE 25. Traffic was thrown out of gear for over 30 minutes on EVR Salai in front of the Central Railway Station today around 10 a.m. following a flash strike by a group of autorickshaw drivers.

Normality was restored on the intervention of the public and some police officers who persuaded the drivers to give up the agitation.

According to eyewitnesses, a traffic constable asked some drivers, who had parked their autorickshaws on EVR Salai on Government General Hospital side, to remove their vehicles to facilitate free flow of traffic.

However, the drivers refused and a wordy duel followed. In the melee, the policeman allegedly roughed up an autorickshaw driver. Soon the other drivers joined together and attempted to attack the constable who fled the scene.

Later the drivers parked their vehicles on the middle of the road and blocked traffic. They also sought the support of their colleagues and within a few minutes there was total chaos. Traffic piled up on all sides on the busy intersection.

Some police personnel who managed to arrive at the spot persuaded the drivers to give up the stir. The drivers placed a list of demands which included action against the ``erring constable''.

Monday's incident is also seen as a fallout of police stepping up action against erring autorickshaw drivers at the Central Railway Station.

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Section  : Southern States
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