Rickshaw Fare hike sparks protest, chaos on roads

A day-long rickshaw strike in Surat’s Pandesara area caused immense inconvenience to commuters, especially women. The strike was triggered by a fare hike of Rs 5 following the rise in CNG prices. Women passengers protested the steep increase, leading to a standoff with drivers.

The sudden fare hike disrupted the daily routine of numerous women who rely on rickshaws for commuting to work. Facing financial strain, they took to the streets demanding a rollback. Rickshaw drivers, on the other hand, justified the fare hike citing increased operational costs. The situation worsened with overcrowding in rickshaws even after the fare hike.

Traffic snarls and delays were reported as people struggled to find alternative modes of transport. Police intervention finally brought the situation under control, resolving the dispute between passengers and drivers. Rickshaw services resumed as normal thereafter.