Delhi auto-rickshaw and taxi operators, as well as bus and goods carrier operators have threatened to go on strike protesting against 40 per cent increase in the cost of third-party vehicle insurance from April 1. Meanwhile, taxi and autorickshaw unions in Delhi also demanded to stop all app-based cab services in the city.
“If the Government does not pay heed to our demand immediately, all taxis and autorickshaws will go off the road on April 11,” said Rajendra Soni, general secretary of both the unions.
They would also take out a protest march against the AAP Government from Samta Sthal to Delhi Secretariat that day, he added. Meanwhile, several unions of auto, taxi, bus and goods carrier have formed a joint action committee and called for an emergency meeting on April 3 to discuss the issue of hike in third-party insurance cost. “We will decide during that meeting as to what action we should take against this decision. If needed, we will go on strike against that,” said Soni.
last month, both the unions had written to Delhi Transport Minister Gopal Rai and demanded that all app-based private cab services be stopped, asking they were taking away the livelihood of traditional black-yellow taxi and autorickshaw drivers.
There are around 13,000 black-yellow taxis and around 81,000 autorickshaws plying on the streets of the capital.
“App-based taxi services are affecting our business and we cannot sit silent. Government should stop their services as most of app-based cab operators are not following rules,” said Soni.
He further said they had to call off their proposed two-day strike starting from March 15 last month after assurance from the Delhi Transport Minister on their demand but they have not still paid heed to their issues.