Kolkata taxi strike put on hold for festive season

In a temporary relief to commuters, taxi unions Monday decided "put on hold" the ongoing taxi strike that began last week in view of the coming festive season.

Called by Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), and All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), the strike resulted in hundreds of cabbies pulling their vehicles off the roads to voice their demands for a fare hike and to protest "police excesses". It was the eighth strike since August.

"We have decided to put it on hold for a few days as the festive season in ahead. But the agitation is on and we will resume the strike soon unless our demands are met. The problems of the drivers still remain unresolved," CITU leader and former minister Anadi Sahu told IANS.

He said a delegation had visited West Bengal Governor K.N. Tripathi earlier in day with the list of demands.

"The governor expressed sympathy and forwarded the demands to the state government," Sahu said, adding the state government will hold a meeting with the striking unions Tuesday.

At the centre of the dispute is the government decision to increase the fine for passenger refusal from Rs.100 to Rs.3,000 to combat repeated complaints of refusals.

The government in August arrested 22 drivers for vandalism as they damaged taxis which did not heed their call and continued plying. They were released on bail after spending four days in jail.

Around 37,000 taxis ply in the city daily.