Taxi owners start indefinite strike at Bagdogra airport over revision of fares and waiver on taxes

Some passengers could travel by NBSTC buses, while others had to walk with their luggage out of the airport and scout for vehicles

The deserted parking lot of the Bagdogra airport on Tuesday.: Passang Yolmo

TT  |   Siliguri   |   03.02.21 :  The car parking area at the Bagdogra airport wore a deserted look on Tuesday as taxi owners and drivers started an indefinite strike.

As 13,00 cabs kept off road, hundreds of passengers faced inconveniences. While some of them could travel by NBSTC buses, others had to walk with their luggage out of the airport and scout for vehicles.

Last month, representatives of taxi owners and drivers' associations had announced an indefinite strike over a series of demands, including immediate revision of fares and waiver on taxes for the lockdown period.

Since 2008, there has been no change in the fares they charge from passengers, the owners and drivers had said.

The authorities intervened and promised to look into their demands soon.

Based on the assurances, the cab owners had postponed their strike for a fortnight.

“We waited till January 29, that is, for 15 days but there was no change in the situation. That is why we decided to stop running our vehicles from February 2. Accordingly, taxis are not running from Bagdogra from today. We will not resume the services unless the government comes up with a concrete assurance,” said Siraj Bhowmik, the president of the Bagdogra Taxi Owners’ Welfare Association.

There were 44 flights at Bagdogra and altogether, 5,971 passengers moved through the airport on Tuesday, said an official of the Airports Authority of India.

A hotel owner in Siliguri said: “A three-day tourism carnival will start in another three-four days to promote the region. The taxi strike at the airport now will send a wrong message. We hope the administration will take necessary steps to end the impasse.”