Passengers in the metropolis were inconvenienced today owing to the day-long taxi strike called by several associations demanding rise in fares.
Following withdrawal of taxis from the roads, the public transport system comprising buses, trams and the underground railway system were overcrowded as passengers and office-goers had to rush to reach their destinations on time.
Those arriving at the airport and railway stations at Howrah, Sealdah and Kolkata termini had to wait for long to get hold of a transport to reach home and other places.
Taxi associations affiliated to CITU, AITUC and some non-political ones had called the strike to press for their demand of raising the minimum fare from Rs 25 in view of the increasing fuel costs.
They were also protesting against the transport department for slapping a no-refusal fee of Rs 3000 which was Rs 100 earlier.
State transport minister Madan Mitra warned the striking taxi associations of severe consequences if the drivers went ahead with the strike and alleged that the Left trade unions were instigating this.
