Mumbai: If fares not hiked, auto-taxi unions call for indefinite strike from September 15

MUMBAI: The Mumbai taximen's union and rickshawmen's union have called for an indefinite taxi and autorickshaw strike in Mumbai from September 15 to demand fare hikes.
The cabbies have now demanded a hike of Rs 10 in their latest petition on strike threat given to Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde on Tuesday.
AL Quadros from Mumbai taximen's union said the cost of CNG was hiked by a total Rs 32 since the last fare revision in March 2021.
"Due to a series of hikes, the taxi and autorickshaw operators are losing Rs 250 to Rs 300 earnings daily. The drivers are left with no alternatives but to go for strike in Mumbai if the decision is not taken at the earliest," he said.
"For a fuel price hike of over 25%, the government has to hike fares as per the prevailing Khatua committee recommendations," he pointed out.
A MMRTA official said that "the meeting is likely anytime soon", but no date has been fixed so far. Commuters told TOI there was no need to give another hike as the last hike was in 2021.