Taxi unions go on strike demanding fare hike

City dwellers had a tough time today due to the day-long taxi strike called by several associations demanding rise in fares and protesting against police atrocities.
The 24-hour-strike was called by the Kolkata Taxi Operators' Union and the West Bengal Taxi Operators' Coordination Committee, both affiliates of the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), demanding a fare hike.
"The state government is not at all bothered about our repeated pleas. We held agitations protesting police harassment on our drivers besides other demands of fare hike," INTUC state president Ramen Pandey said criticising West Bengal government's stand on fare hike.
With the withdrawal of taxis from the roads, the city's public transport system comprising buses, trams and Metro railway system were overcrowded.

In fact, those arriving at the railway stations at Howrah, Sealdah and Kolkata termini and the city airport had to wait for long to get hold of a taxi to reach their destinations.