Warning of launching a bigger agitation, taxi unions in the city have given the West Bengal government a deadline till January 15 to address their demands of a fare hike and designated stands with free parking after their two-day strike ended today.
Describing the strike as an absolute success, CITU leader and former labour minister Anadi Sahu told PTI, "They are hopeful that the state government will look into their demands, or else those involved in the taxi industry will have to start a bigger agitation for their survival."
Besides CITU, Bengal Taxi Association has called for the two-day strike. The AITUC which stayed away from this bandh, however, called for another two-day strike on December 28 and 29.
The government should realise that the price of petrol and diesel has gone up since 2012 when taxi fares were hiked the last time, he said.
Taxi unions also want the state government to remove cases against drivers and compensate the families of the three cabbies who died due to intense heat this summer.
The unions have written to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who is also the Transport Minister, directly requesting her to look into their plea, Sahu said.
Following withdrawal of around 40,000 taxis from the city roads as well as in Howrah, Hooghly, both North and South 24 Parganas, the transport system was put to test with overcrowded buses, trams as well as the Metro.
There were no taxis at the airport and the two major railway stations at Howrah and Sealdah causing hardship to long distance travellers.
"Buses are refusing to carry bulky bags. And the autos are asking prices which one cannot even imagine... How will we go home with these luggage," a lady waiting with her family at Sealdah station, said.
