Kolkata:
City commuters will have a tough time on July 14 when about 1,800 mini buses and nearly 35,000 taxis will go off the road demanding fare hike in view of the 'steep' rise in the prices of petroleum products.
Speaking on behalf of the Minibus operators' coordination committee and Bengal minibus owners' syndicate, Abasesh Daw said that a decision to go on a one-day token strike was taken at a joint meeting with different taxi operators' associations on Friday.
Daw demanded a hike of Rs two for every stage in the taxi fare.
Bengal Taxi Association President Bimal Guha said that nearly 35,000 taxis would observe a day's strike on July 14 demanding a 'reasonable' fare hike in view of sharp rise in prices of petroleum products, inputs and accessories in the last two years.
The meeting was attended by representatives of Bengal Taxi Association, Calcutta Taxi association and West Bengal Taxi drivers' welfare association, he added.
Meanwhile, Joint Council of Bus syndicate President Sadhan Das said that they had already placed their demand to the state government for fare hike.
Das said that different private transport operators' association, including the two Bus syndicates, Bengal minibus owners' syndicate and joint council of luxury taxi association, held a rally in the city demanding fare hike.