Few cabs and little fuel: Twin strikes hit transport services, commuters

The surge in the price of rides was almost 100 per cent in many areas

Commuters in Delhi on Monday found themselves at the receiving end of a political double whammy: CNG, petrol and diesel were in short supply as private petrol pumps went on strike; and no cabs were in sight except at extortionate tariffs as cab drivers too struck work.

400-odd petrol pumps and CNG-dispensing units in Delhi remained closed on Monday as a protest against the Delhi government’s resistance to lowering the value-added tax (VAT), thus keeping the retail prices of the fuels higher than in the neighbouring states; and cab drivers went on strike against the Delhi government’s policies that “went