Taxi operators strike in HP complete

Shimla, Apr 30 (UNI) Over 18,000 taxis across Himachal Pradesh remained off the roads today following a dawn-to-dusk strike called by various taxi operators against the government's move to introduce metered taxi services in the state.

All taxi operators across the state have decided not to ply their vehicles from 0600 hrs to 1800 hrs today against the government's move, a local taxi operator Sumedh Singh told UNI here.

He said, so far, the strike had been complete and peaceful across Shimla district and added that the operators would intensify their agitation if their demands were not met by this evening.

Alleging that the state transport officials were issuing tickets to the taxi operators from tomorrow for not installing metres, which were not available in the market, he said the government should have a sympathetic view of their problems.

Mr Singh said the metres, available at a few places, were being sold at an inflated cost of Rs 1,800 as against their original price of Rs 1,200.

Meanwhile, thousands of tourists and locals were left stranded at various places in Manali, Kullu, Mandi, Dalhousie, Chamba, Shimla and Kangra towns of the state due to the strike by the taxi operators.

UNI