Taxi, autos to be hit in CNG dealers’ strike

Auto and taxi services in the city will be hit from January 5, which is the first day of the indefinite strike announced by the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) stations in Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai. Prajakta Chavan reports.

Auto and taxi services in the city will be hit from January 5, which is the first day of the indefinite strike announced by the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) stations in Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai.

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These stations will remain closed from 6am on January 5.

CNG dealers have called for a strike of 122 CNG stations in Mumbai and the suburbs as no note has been taken of their demand for a hike in commission. “For the past 18years we have been supplying CNG and in all these years we have only received a 14paise hike. Currently, we are selling CNG for a margin of 87paise a kg and that makes the business non-feasible for us,” said Rajiv Shinde, president, Petrol Dealers Association, Mumbai.

The association is demanding Rs 1.71 as the overall commission for a kilo of fuel, instead of 87 paise that they are receiving now from oil companies. Oil companies have, however, offered them a 29 paise hike, taking their commission to 1.16 paise.

“We are demanding 55 paise more than what they have offered us. Running the business and giving salaries to staff as per the new scale is impossible with the current commission. The state government has called us for a discussion on Wednesday but have not told us where or at what time. If we are satisfied with the meeting we may call off the strike,” Shinde said.