Kolkata: The 72-hour strike called by Taxi unions which was scheduled to start from August 6, has been deferred after receiving assurance from the state Transport department about meeting their demands soon.
According to sources in the Transport department, the taxi unions such as Bengal Taxi Association (BTA), West Bengal Drivers Welfare Association and Progressive Taxi men's Union met West Bengal Transport Corporation managing director Narayan Swaroop Nigam, at Paribahan Bhawan on Monday.
"We have withdrawn the 72-hour taxi strike which was scheduled to be held on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. We had put forward our demands to the Transport department," said BTA general secretary Bimal Kumar Guha.
The demands of the unions are hike in taxi fare, action against police harassing taxi drivers on road and setting up of taxi stands at different places across the city.
"The Transport department has accepted our demands except taxi fare hike. But the officials have told us that they are looking into the matter and will reply us," added Guha.
The taxi unions demanded that the minimum taxi fare should increase by Rs 10. At present, the minimum taxi fare is Rs 30, which is for two kilometers. This apart, the taxi unions also alleged that the drivers are being slapped with unnecessary fines for picking up passengers from different locations and not taxi stands.
"We will silently observe till a few days from now to see whether the Transport department is trying to solve and satisfy our demands or not. If we find that nothing has been done then we will go for indefinite taxi strike," Guha added.