Allow Auto, Tuktuks to take Rangirkhari Point to Hospital Road route: Students in Silchar demand

Students in Silchar blocked the road twice to protest against the doubling of auto fares after lockdown. The protests worked and the administration is gradually exerting pressure on drivers. This time the students have demanded to resume auto movement from Rangirkhari point to Shillongpatty point for the benefit of general public alongwith students. On Wednesday, they submitted a memorandum to the police superintendent and transport department officials citing their demands.

Students of Cachar College, Gurucharan College and other educational institutions handed over the memorandum under the banner of Sanatani Seva Sangstha. Informing the media about this, they said, “Earlier, people could approach autos and e-rickshaws directly from Rangirkhari point to Hospital Road, Ambicapatty point, Premtala point, Devdoot point and Capital point via Shillongpatty.

At one point, a new rule was imposed to bar the entry of autorickshaws from Devdoot Point to Capital Point which was accepted by common people. The new rules have been in place for more than a year now. Autos and E-rickshaws were instructed to travel from Rangirkhari towards Shiv Colony and Smashan. The ordinary passengers have suffered a lot due to the diktat. There is a civil hospital on Hospital Road, and the main shopping area of ​​the city is adjacent to Premtala Point. Due to the new rules, the common man has had to change the route while on the other hand, auto fares have increased. Students are suffering due to it alongwith the ordinary people. We want the administration to change this rule first and allow autos and tuk-tuks to go directly from Rangirkhari point to Devdoot point via Shillongpatty.”

They are the same students who recently blocked the city twice, demanding the increase in auto fares to be curtailed. For the second time, their blockade became massive and the administration officials were forced to promise that they would take necessary steps. After that, raids were carried out in different parts of the city by the transport department for checking fares. Although it did not have much effect on the fares, but now the auto drivers don’t not argue too much when passengers insist to pay ten rupees. The students made it clear that if the harassment of common man is not stopped demanding excessive fares from th, they will block the roads again if necessary.