Taxi drivers in Bengal threaten stir over unmet demands

The Bengal Taxi Association on Wednesday said it would launch a demonstration if the state transport department doesn't pay attention to the cab drivers' demands of a fare hike and regulating private cab aggregators.

"We have requested the new Transport Minister Subhendu Adikary to meet us within the next 10 days and look into our demands. If he doesn't give any time to hold a meeting then we will launch a demonstration in front of his office," said the association's general secretary Bimal Guha.

He said diesel prices have shot up but there has been no hike in taxi fares in the state in accordance with the increase in fuel costs.

"On top of that, there is no regulation on the fare charged by cab aggregators. Our cab drivers are ill-treated by police and there is a huge dearth of taxi stands. We want the new minister to listen to our demands and so we have given him a time of 10 days from May 30 for an appointment," Guha added.

--IANS

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