CAB DRIVERS CALL OFF 8DAYLONG STRIKE

LUCKNOW:

The Cab Owners and Drivers’ Welfare Committee, UP, called off their eight-day-long strike even as their demands remained unfulfilled after talks with cab companies on Tuesday.

Taxi drivers said their decision to call off the strike was in favour of the commuters who faced a tough time in the absence of cab service. However, they will resort to indefinite hunger strike from Wednesday.

During the day, the agitators also took out a mock funeral procession of cab companies, after their demands were not met.

“We have called off the strike as commuters were having a tough time

for eight days. But our protest will continue and we will resort to hunger strike from Wednesday and stage demonstration at the office of transport commissioner,” said Pankaj Dikshit, convenor, sanyukt sangharsh samiti.

He said, “We also held discussions with the representatives of Ola and Uber during a meeting, but the talks remained inconclusive.”

Taxi drivers who had been off road were demanding a raise in their payment, in accordance with the rise in fuel prices, and guarantee of work of at least ₹2,000 in every 12-hour shift.

They also wanted hike in commission

and implementation of rates in accordance with those fixed by the transport department (at ₹20 per km).

“The rates for drivers are very low. It does not allow them to save anything for their future,” said Pankaj Dixit, president, Lucknow Auto-Rickshaw Three-wheeler Sangh (LARTS). “There are about 7,000 taxis in Lucknow and majority remained off road till Monday,” he said.

RK Pandey of cab owners/drivers’ welfare samiti said drivers’ income is limited despite companies charging high rates from commuters during evening, night and even early morning hours.