Taxi operators call of strike after government relents on metres

Shimla, Apr 30 (UNI) Taxi operators in Himachal Pradesh called off their proposed state-wide indefinite strike from today after the state government announced 45-day relaxation to the operators to install meters in their taxis.

The decision to call off the strike was announced by State Transport and Tourism Minister G S Bali after his meeting with various taxi operators at Dharamshala in Kangra district, hours before the dawn to dusk strike by the operators was to come to an end.

He said the relaxation, up till June 15 this year, was only for those operators and unions who give an undertaking that they would install meters within the stipulated time period.

The taxi operators were also free to purchase electronic meters from anywhere in the country provided the meters were of the required specifications and the product was registered with the transport department, he said.

Mr Bali said taxis with all India permit would, however, not be allowed to ply on local routes and this would be ensured by alloting different colours to them besides constructing separate parking lots.

Referring to a large number of private vehicles being plied in the state, he said strict and necessary action would be taken against them since they were causing huge financial losses to the state government.

As far as criminal cases registered against a few taxi operators for assualting a transport official, he said the government would consider their demand sympathetically.

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