Taxi-Autos off Mumbai roads for one day

Mumbai, Oct 16 (UNI) Office-goers today faced hardships in reaching their destinations on time, following the one-day token strike called by autorickshaw and taxi drivers here, since last midnight, to press for their various demands.

The Mumbai Rickshaw-Taximen Union leader Sharad Rao told UNI that over three lakh taxi and autorickshaw drivers are participating in the strike for their demands, including scrapping of Government's proposal to not allow 25-year-old taxis in the city.

Mr Rao said the representatives would meet Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil and also take out a rally to Transport Commissioner's office at Bandra here, this afternoon.

He alleged that the scrapping of 25-year old taxis is a part of conspiracy between some bureaucrats in the Transport Department and the president of the Bombay Taxi Union A L Quadros and others.

Under government's proposal, more than 30,000 taxis will be scrapped in the next one and a half year, he said.

Their other demands include increase in fare from every January, linking the fare with the cost of living index, electronic meter be made optional, ESI system be introduced, exemption from professional tax and toll tax for taximen, abolition of fleet taxi scheme and taxi operators at international and domestic airports be given priorities, he added.

UNI ST RN ARB RAI1102