Kolkata: Taxi unions have decided to stop plying taxis in Howrah from November 15 to protest against police atrocities."Harassment by the police has increased a lot in Howrah. On October 26, a taxi driver was brutally beaten up by a police official in Howrah. That is why we have decided to stop plying taxis from November 15, 2019," said Nawal Kishore Shrivastav, president of Kolkata Taxi Operators' Union.
He said taxi drivers will stage a demonstration at Howrah station on November 11, 2019.
"At 12 pm, taxi drivers will assemble near Howrah taxi prepaid booth outside Howrah station and will protest against the harassment by the police," Shrivastav said.
Apart from police harassment, they would protest against hike in taxi fare and delay in delivery of licenses. During the protest, they will press for setting up four pollution centres at various parts of the city, demand increase in the extra taxi night charge fare and setting up of government taxi stands at different places in the city.
"Nearly 12, 000 taxis cater to the passengers at Howrah station every day. We will not survive if the taxi fare remains constant and cost of maintenance of taxis increase.
"After paying for diesel and traffic fines, a driver carries home anything between Rs 250 and Rs 300 a day," Shrivastav said.