The 24-hour taxi strike on Thursday made life miserable for Kolkatans. Despite state transport minister Madan Mitra’s tall claims, people particularly passengers arriving at Sealdah and Howrah railway stations had a harrowing time.
Most of the 33,000 taxis plying in the city remained off the roads in response to the strike called by the Bengal Taxi Association, protesting against harassment by the traffic police and demanding increase in fare.
Thousands of commuters, particularly office goers, faced inconvenience as the taxi unions — Bengal Taxi Association, Calcutta Taxi Operators Association and even Progressive Taximen’s Union which owes its allegiance to the ruling Trinamul Congress — ensured that the strike was total. Bengal Taxi Association president Bimal Guha threatened to go on another strike, this time a 72-hour one, from the first week of May if their grievances were not addressed immediately.
The state transport minister informed that at least 350 extra buses and vessels were pressed into service on Thursday to mobilise the passengers from Sealdah and Howrah stations and Kolkata airport. He added he would do the same when the taxi operators go on another strike.
“They can do whatever they want, the state government will not sit over the discussion table until the operators stop their strike,” Mr Mitra added.