Auto, taxi strike on Thursday

The auto and taxi unions in the city have threatened to go on strike on Thursday demanding an increase of Rs 2-3 fare hike to cushion the increase in the price of CNG.

'The fare of auto-rickshaw and taxi was revised on 21 June 2010 since then the price of CNG has been doubled. We have no option but to increase the fare,' said Rajinder Soni, National President of Bhartiya Private Transport Mazdoor Mahasangh. The present fare of taxi in the city is Rs 20 for the first kilometre and Rs 11 for every extra kilometre. The association claimed that nearly 55,000 auto-rickshaws and 15,000 taxis would join the strike on Thursday.

'We have been serving people without any hike in fare for last two years, but the cost of CNG has doubled in this period. Either the government provide us CNG at the price of 2010 or increase the fare,' said Naresh Yadav, General Secretary of Delhi Auto-rickshaw Sangh. The price of CNG on 21 June 2010 was Rs 21.90 per kg, which is now Rs 35.45 and would become Rs 37.22 if the budget proposal was passed in the House.

Meanwhile, private mini bus and Grameen Seva operators have also demanded fare hike by Rs 5 on each category. The present fare of private mini bus and Grameen Seva is Rs 5, 10 and Rs 15. 'In view of the increase in price of CNG, we have written the government to increase the fare by Rs 5 on each category. The government have assured us that they would consider the matter, so we are not joining the strike on Thursday,' said Shyam Lal Gola, president of Delhi Bus Ekta Manch.