Autorickshaw Union slam Maharashtra govt's e-bike scheme, plans to protest at Andheri RTO in Mumbai on May 21

We will protest outside the Andheri RTO office on May 21 morning against the e-bike scheme of Maharashtra govt , Union leader Shashank Sharad Rao said. Representational Pic/File

The Mumbai Autorickshaw Taximen's Union will be staging a protest by taking out a massive morcha at the Andheri Regional Transport Office (RTO) on Wednesday to protest against the e-bike plan initiated by the Maharashtra government.

"The state government should have ideally consulted us before formally launching such a scheme. It will affect the livelihood of a lot of auto men directly and indirectly. We will be taking out a massive morcha outside the Andheri RTO office at 11 am on May 21, Wednesday," Union leader Shashank Sharad Rao said.

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"The government has sanctioned this proposal in the name of giving jobs to the youth. Ideally, they should have called us for consultation before taking such a major step. There are 4.5 lakh autos in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region and 12 lakh in Maharashtra, and many auto drivers are under loan periods. Their business and income are under threat due to this. We appeal to the Maharashtra government to withdraw this scheme immediately and work towards the welfare of auto rickshaw drivers in the state," said Rao, who is also the president of the Auto Rickshaw Malak Chalak Sanghatana, to mid-day.

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