Auto, taxi drivers to take out protest march tomorrow

Ahead of their two-day proposed strike against app-based cab services in the national capital, a section of auto and taxi unions will take out a protest march from Rajghat to Delhi Secretariat tomorrow.

"Delhi government has called us for a meeting to discuss our demands tomorrow. Before the meeting, hundreds of auto rickshaw and taxi drivers will take out a protest march with black flags on their vehicles from Rajghat to Delhi Secretariat tomorrow," Rajendra Soni, general secretary of auto and taxi unions, said.

Delhi Auto rickshaw Sangh and Delhi Pradesh Taxi Union have threatened to take their vehicles off the city roads on March 15 and 16.

Soni said they have already apprised the government of their demand to stop all app-based private cab services which were taking away the livelihood of traditional black-yellow taxi and auto rickshaw drivers.

"If government does not pay heed to our demand immediately, all taxis and auto rickshaws will go off work on March 15 and 16," he said.

"App-based taxi services are affecting our business and we cannot sit silent. Government should stop their services as most of the app-based cab operators are not following rules," he added.

There are around 13,000 black-yellow taxis and 81,000 auto rickshaws plying on the streets of the national capital.