Promise of talks defers taxi strike -on decision of indefinite strike over a series of demands, including fare hike

Around 3,000 cabs were to stay off roads on Tuesday

As officials of Darjeeling district administration learnt about the decision, they quickly decided to hold talks with the associations.: Telegraph file picture

Bireswar Banerjee   |   TT   |   Siliguri   |    13.01.21  :  In a last-minute decision, associations of taxi owners and drivers of Bagdogra and Siliguri on Tuesday deferred their decision of indefinite strike, a relief to tourists and tourism stakeholders.

On Monday, associations in Bagdogra had announced that from Tuesday, they would start an indefinite strike over a series of demands, including fare hike. Since 2008, fares had not been revised by the state government. A number of other associations in Siliguri supported the decision and decided on a day’s strike.

In all, around 3,000 cabs, including luxury taxis, were to stay off roads on Tuesday.

As officials of Darjeeling district administration learnt about the decision, they quickly decided to hold talks with the associations.

Accordingly, Sonam Tshering Lepcha, the regional transport officer (RTO) of Darjeeling, was sent to Bagdogra where he held a meeting with representatives of the associations on Monday night.

The meeting ended almost at midnight and associations decided to defer the strike as Lepcha gave a written assurance that the administration would hold a meeting with them on January 14. “The RTO’s written assurance and request to defer the strike till the January 14 meeting is over made us reconsider. We hope the talks will yield positive results,” Siraj Bhowmik, president of Bagdogra Taxi Owners’ Welfare Association. 

He hinted that if no decision was made on the revision of fares and other issues at the meeting, they might announce the indefinite strike again.

Though the strike was deferred, there were fewer cabs at the airport as many cab owners came to know about the decision late on Tuesday. Many luxury taxis were off roads. “As the decision was made late on Monday night, many members had no information about it. Thus, they did not ply their vehicles. We hope the situation is normal on Wednesday,” said Bhowmik.

A hotel owner of the city said as tourist flow was steady these days, they all hoped for a positive decision is made at the January 14 meeting so that there are no taxi strikes.