Bus, taxi strike called in Bengal due to diesel hike

To resolve the situation, the state government has invited the Joint Council of Bus Syndicate, which claims affiliation of 35,000 buses in West Bengal, and other operators to meet him on Monday. He also urged them no to go on strikes.

The Joint Council of Bus Syndicate called an indefinite strike from September 17, but said it would call it off if the state government agreed to a rise in fares in next two days.

The Bengal Taxi Association (BTA) also called a three day strike from September 20 demanding hike in fares.

"It's impossible for us to run buses any more following the steep increase in diesel price. We have no other option but to go for a strike, " General Secretary of the Syndicate Sadhan Das told reporters here.

He said operators were already running at a loss which would be compounded by the diesel fare hike.

"We have urged the state government several times and Transport Minister Madan Mitra for an immediate hike in bus fares, but without result.

"We don't think any further discussion with the Minister will make the situation different," he said.

Das, however, said, "If the state government changes its mind and agrees to hike bus fares within the next two days, we will withdraw our agitation immediately".

The other major organisation, Bengal Bus Syndicate, headed by Trinamool Congress MLA Swarnakamal Saha, has not made its decision known.

BTA President Bimal Guha said that if their demand was not settled, an indefinite strike would be called from September 24.

The transport minister invited the Joint Council of Bus Syndicate and other operators to meet him on Monday and and urged for withdrawal of the strikes.

"The Group of Ministers (GoM) on Transport is also scheduled to hold a meeting on Monday. The matter could be resolved amicably there," Mitra said.

Stating that the state government was already giving Rs 600 crore subsidy to five corporations under transport department, the minister said that this would be increased to Rs 700 crore after the hike in diesel prices.

"Despite this, the state government is not going for hike in fares in public interest," he said.

"Try to realise the situation and cooperate with the state government," he said.