AMRITSAR: The restoration of railway services bring a much needed relief for auto drivers in the holy city, who are now looking forward for better days after the lockdown. Lockdown since March and then closure of trains has resulted in a huge drop in the number of passengers arriving in the Holy City Amritsar.
As per the information, around 35, 000 autos are operating in the city for local transport and due to pandemic the families of these auto drivers struggling with their livelihood.
Harpal Singh, President Auto Drivers Union, said that there are about 35, 000 auto drivers in the district who earn bread and butter for about their 1.50 lakh family members by taking pilgrims and tourists to their destinations.
He said that with the closure of trains, a tourist could not come to the city, which had created a food crisis for the families of these auto drivers.
Harpal Singh said that after the lockdown, the auto drivers were forced to sell fruits and vegetables in the auto to feed their families. He said that they were recovering from that damage and then trains were halted due to the strike, which created another problem to the auto drivers.
The President of Auto Drivers Union thanked the Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh for his concerted efforts to get the railway service resumed in the state. He also thanked farmers for lifting their dharna fro rail track at Jandiala . “We are hoping that with the resumption of train services our business will flourish as passengers will again start coming to the Holy City, ” he added.
Meanwhile, before the lockdown Amritsar used to witness over one lakh daily footfall from all over the world.