Officially there are around 30,000 taxis in Kolkata. (File photo)
Kolkata commuters have been having a harrowing time today. Almost all taxis are off the roads with drivers protesting against a Rs 3000 fine for refusing passengers, general harassment by the police and the arrest of 22 drivers during a demonstration last Thursday.
The protests are being led by Left unions - CITU and AITUC. But since they began last Thursday, taxi drivers of almost all unions have taken their vehicles off the road, either in solidarity or in fear of attacks on their vehicles.
There have also been some reports of attacks on taxis that have dared to ply on the streets.
Officially there are around 30,000 taxis in Kolkata. The Left has the loyalty of about 8,000. What this has meant is almost no taxis on the streets of Kolkata, at the railway stations and airports. Worst hit are people who have a medical emergency and need to take patients to hospitals.
"We are not striking, we are carrying out a protest movement," says taxi driver Pramod Jha. "How can we pay 3000 rupees as fine if we are making barely 200 rupees a day?"
But the government has hardened its stand. It has called a meeting with all taxi unions tomorrow at 1 pm. At the same time transport minister Madan Mitra has ordered the deployment of police and Trinamool workers across the city tomorrow to ensure that taxis wanting to ply can do so.
"Trinamool workers and the police will make sure from tomorrow that taxis can run," he said.
But isn't this a recipe for clashes between taxi drivers and Trinamool men?
"We have told party workers not to take the law into their own hands," said Mr Mitra. "But we will not bow to the goondagardi of taxi drivers either."