Autos, taxis on indefinite strike from today

NEW DELHI: Brace for a manic Tuesday as autos and taxis are expected to be off the road in response a strike called by the joint action committee of auto-rickshaw

NEW DELHI: Brace for a manic Tuesday as autos and taxis are expected to be off the road in response a strike called by the joint action committee of auto-rickshaw and taxi unions.

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The union has warned of an indefinite strike if the Delhi government did not ban app-based taxi aggregators.

There are about 85,000 autos and 18,000 yellow and black (kaali-peeli) taxis in Delhi and if they go off the road, commuters will face problems, especially at the airport, bus and railway stations.

As per the joint action committee formed by 20 transport unions, auto and taxi (yellowblack taxis) unions of the domestic and international airports have lent support to the strike.

“In April, the AAP government had promised to ban app-based taxis still plying illegally. They provide services at cheap rates, due to which auto drivers are facing a crisis,” said Rajendra Soni, general secretary, Delhi Auto-rickshaw Sangh and Delhi Pradesh Taxi Union.

Soni threatened that the government failed to initiate talks in two days, they would go on a hunger strike.

Kishan Verma, president of the All Delhi Auto-Taxi Transport Congress Union, said drivers of yellow-black taxis and autos had been asked to withdraw their vehicles from the airport, railway stations, ISBTs and Metro stations from Monday midnight.

The Delhi government termed the strike “politically motivated”, saying banning app-based cab services was not under its ambit. It said the Centre should do something in this regard.

A section of auto unions, apparently affiliated to the AAP, met transport minister Satyendar Jain to discuss the issue.