Kolkata, Jan 21: Over 40 per cent of the private buses and all taxis remained off the city roads today, leading to harassment of commuters, following a one-day token strike by a section of bus operators and an indefinite taxi strike since Monday night. While the taxi associations stuck to their indefinite strike, a section of private bus operators led by the Joint Council of Bus Syndicates was observing a one-day token strike in the state protesting hike in road tax and alleged police excesses.
The State Transport Corporations ran extra buses, while private buses operated by Bengal Bus Syndicate and minibuses plied as usual, police said.
Notwithstanding the plight of the commuters, detained at railway stations, airports and important junctions for want of taxis, the taxi unions have decided to continue their stir till the state government concedes their demands.
Progressive Taximen`s Association secretary Madan Mitra had yesterday said, "We will continue the strike till our demands are met."
Altogether 38,000 taxis and 18,000 luxury taxis were off the city roads since Monday night in support of the demands.
The one-day strike by Joint Council of bus Syndicate, to press for its demand for a fare hike in view of increase in diesel price and enhancement of taxes and fees by the state government, further inconvenienced the people. Bureau Report