As the demand for fare hike goes unheard, the Mumbai Taximen's Union and Mumbai Rickshawmen's Union have called for an indefinite strike from September 15.
In their latest petition to Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Tuesday, August 23, the taxi drivers have demanded a hike of INR 10. A L Quadros from Mumbai Taximen's Union said due to a series of hikes, taxi and autorickshaw operators’ earnings have dropped by INR 250-300 daily. Drivers are left with no alternative but to in for a strike if a decision is not taken quickly.
The price of CNG has gone up by a total of INR 32 since the last rate review in March 2021, he stated, adding that for a fuel price hike of over 25 per cent, the government has to hike fares as per the Khatua committee recommendations.
On the other hand, Thampy Kurien from Mumbai Rickshawmen's Union exclaimed that as per the Khatua committee calculation, which takes into account fuel price, cost of living index, capital cost, maintenance of vehicle and insurance, the minimum hike we would have got a couple of days back was INR 3. Taxi unions have not made any calculations.
According to reports, MMRTA’s meeting is likely to take place anytime soon.
In order to press their various long pending demands furthermore, the Mumbai Taximen Union had earlier announced a strike on Monday, August 1, 2022; however, recently, the prices of CNG had reduced on August 16 by INR 6 per kg and domestic piped natural gas (PNG) by INR 4 per standard cubic metre (SCM). Now, the revised MRP, inclusive of all taxes, of the CNG is INR 80 per kg while the PNG rate is INR 48.50/SCM in and around Mumbai.
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