Mangalore : Autorickshaw drivers staged a huge protest in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Mangalore on July 12, Friday opposing any moves to allow autorickshaws having rural  permits to operate in Mangalore.

Earlier, they even took out a procession. Addressing a protest meet, Ali Hassan, President of the Co-ordination Committee came down heavily on Health and Family Welfare Minister for stating at a meeting at RTO office recently that the rural permit autorickshaws will be allowed to ply in the city within ten days. Such a move, he said would be adversely affecting autorickshaw drivers of Mangalore who are already struggling, he said.

He further said rural permit autorickshaws cannot operate in Mangalore and added already several such auto rickshaws were operating illegally in Mangalore. He also said rural autos would be allowed in case of any emergency.