3 days ago
Auto drivers struggle as 155 stands vanish in city makeover
Hubballi: The auto drivers and owners in the city has been facing difficulties due to the absence of designated auto stands. Around 155 auto stands in the city were dismantled during the construction of HD-BRTS corridors, flyovers and cement concrete roads.
The authorities initially promised to restore these stands once the development projects were completed; however, this assurance did not materialise. The lack of proper parking spaces created numerous problems for auto drivers. They were forced to park their vehicles in unauthorised areas, leading to traffic congestion and potential conflicts with traffic police. This situation also affected their daily earnings as they could not wait for passengers at designated spots.
The absence of proper auto stands also created inconvenience for passengers who struggled to find autos at specific locations.
The auto unions repeatedly approached the relevant authorities with their concerns, but their requests did not receive adequate attention.
Shekharayya Mathapati, president, Uttar Karnataka Auto Rickshaw Chalakar Sangh, called upon police and civic authorities to allocate suitable spaces for auto-rickshaw parking.
Currently, Hubballi city requires more than 400 auto stands to accommodate its fleet. There are over 25,000 autos in twin cities, including over 17,000 autos in Hubballi. During former DC Dharwad Gurudatta Hegde's administration, plans were approved to establish five auto stands with comprehensive facilities out of a total of 155 stands. While authorities created stands near Banni Mahankali temple and the railway station, they have yet to establish stands with proper facilities near Hubballi airport, Old Bus terminal and Bharat mill stop.
Commissioner of HDMC Rudresh Ghali said he was unaware of any previous decisions regarding designated auto-rickshaw stands. Ghali said he would consult with relevant officials and take appropriate action on this matter.
