Kolkata, Sep 29 (PTI) Over 20,000 motorvan drivers staged a march through the main thoroughfares of the city on Tuesday, demanding withdrawal of restrictions on the operation of these vehicles and an end to alleged police and administrative harassment.
A motorvan is a small, locally used goods-carrying vehicle, often a modified three-wheeler or four-wheeler fitted with a motor or a power unit and an open or covered cargo body.
The protesters, belonging to the All Bengal Motorvan Drivers’ Union, affiliated to the All India United Trade Union Centre (AIUTUC), said their vehicles are used to transport building materials, LPG cylinders and vegetables in neighbouring districts and the city fringes.
They alleged that police and administrative harassment
has put the livelihood of around 25,000 motorvan drivers at stake.
The rally began from the Sealdah station area around 1 pm and proceeded through Moulali and SN Banerjee Road towards Rani Rashmoni Avenue.
Another procession of more than 5,000 drivers arrived from Howrah station and assembled at Subodh Mullick Square before joining the main march on S N Banerjee Road.
The combined procession reached Rani Rashmoni Avenue, where the protesters held a demonstration meeting, disrupting vehicular movement.
The meeting was chaired by union president and AIUTUC state secretary Ashok Das.
Union state secretary Jayanta Saha, vice-president Tapan Das, assistant secretary Anshudhar Mondal and leaders from various districts addressed the gathering.
State secretary of the All Bengal E-Rickshaw (Toto) Drivers’ Union Shyamal Ram and Abdus Said, representing the Kolkata Suburban Bike Taxi Operators’ Union, also spoke at the meeting as invited speakers.
During the programme, a five-member delegation led by Saha went to the state Transport Bhavan and submitted a memorandum to Transport Minister Arjun Singh, the union said.
The protesters’ demands include withdrawal of restrictions on motorvan operations, an end to alleged harassment by the administration and issuance of licences to the drivers, besides other demands under their seven-point charter. PTI SUS MNB
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