People of West Bengal are bracing for a hard time commuting as bus and minibus operators have called a three-day strike from August 20 demanding fare hike, even as taxi operators today held city-dwellers to ransom for the fourth day in a fortnight by observing a wild-cat strike.
"At least 41,000 buses and minibuses will not operate for three days from August 20 since we are unable to ply our vehicles at the present fares," Joint Council of Bus Syndicates secretary Sadhan Das told PTI here.
Transport Minister Madan Mitra said that 500 extra government-owned buses would be operated during the days of the strike, but it would fall way short of the demand as five state transport corporations operate a fleet of just under 2,000 buses in West Bengal.
Several meetings of the syndicates with the transport minister and the Trinamool Congress leadership have failed to yield any amicable solution, he said.
A meeting between TMC All-India General Secretary Mukul Roy and the syndicate leaders yesterday could not find a solution to the issue.
"We do not want to go for such agitation, but the government has to take a decision or else we are unable to run our buses," Das said.
Pointing out that the price of diesel in the state was Rs 50.70 in November 2012 when the fares were last hiked, Das said that at present the price was Rs 63.22.
The syndicates demanded that minimum fares for ordinary buses be hiked from Rs 5 to Rs 8 for the first two kilometres, while that for minibuses be Rs 10 from Rs 6 for the same distance.
Meanwhile, taxi drivers did not bring out their vehicles today demanding a hike in fares and also withdrawal of criminal cases against 22 drivers arrested for vandalism on the first day of the strike on August 8.
The drivers and operators held a demonstration and rally at Esplanade this afternoon.
The cabbies did not bring out their vehicles, numbering around 30,000 on August 12 and August 13 demanding that the 22 drivers be released.
The drivers were released on bail on August 13 by a city court.
"We demand withdrawal of criminal cases against the 22 drivers, fare hike and halt in imposition of Rs 3,000 fine on drivers for passenger refusal," INTUC leader Ramen Pandey said.
