Mumbaikars can now heave a sigh of relief as the taxi and autorickshaw strike by Jai Bhagwan Taxi and Rickshaw Sanghatna (JBTRS) was put on hold after members and leaders of the organisation met with chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday.
The JBTRS had held a major protest at Azad Maidan on June 21 and called for a strike on July 26 against the lack of legislature to bring Ola and Uber under the ambit of state or Centre’s control.
Head of the JBTRS, Balasaheb Sanap, said Mr Fadnavis had asked the union for a week’s time to sort issues out internally. He said the union would take a call on the strike by August 5. “The strike has been put on hold for now but it doesn’t mean we have called it off completely,” said Mr Sanap.
Mr Sanap said the state should find out how private cabs companies such as Ola, Uber, among others, were able to slash their fares to Rs 11-12 per km when compared to the Rs 22 charged by the black and yellow for 1.5 km. “Here the black and yellow cabs are unable to manage their homes with the Rs 22 fare, so one can’t help but wonder how these private companies are slashing their rates. What is their source of funding ” asked Mr Sanap.
