Calcutta, July 23: A fare hike for minibuses and taxis was ruled out for the time being today after a section of transport operators that had gone on strike on July 14 said it would “give the new government more time” to consider its demands.
Private bus operators have not yet demanded a fare hike following an upward revision of the price of diesel on June 25. But several minibus and taxi operators had been demanding higher fares since June 26. Two of the three major taxi unions and the main minibus union had taken part in the July 14 strike.
All the three unions today met transport minister Subrata Bakshi at Writers’. “This is a new government. It needs more time. We will wait till September to see what the government does for us,” said Abashesh Daw, the general secretary of the Minibus Operators’ Co-ordination Committee.
Bakshi told the operators that the government was neither in a position to offer a subsidy on diesel price nor was it willing to allow a fare hike as it would burden commuters. “I made it clear that a fare hike cannot be considered right now. Our fiscal condition will not allow us to offer a subsidy. We will try to find ways to help the operators,” the minister said.
The operators requested the government to take steps to reduce the operational cost of running vehicles, which Bakshi agreed to consider.
Bimal Guha, the president of the Bengal Taxi Association, said the operators were “satisfied” with the discussion and “liked” the government’s attitude towards transporters.
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