Around 30 thousand taxis will be off the roads. Citu, Bengal Taxi Association, Calcutta Taxi Association and West Bengal Drivers Welfare Association have called the strike. The associations have called the strike demanding hike in waiting charge of taxis and increase in the number of permanent taxi stands in the city.

The state government needs to set up more number of taxi stands to stop taxi drivers from being harassed by police, said Mr Bimal Guha, president, Bengal Taxi Association. Taxi drivers do not get parking space to park their fleet and police often slap fine for parking on the roadside, said Mr Guha. A year ago, the government had assured that it will set up parking zones for taxi drivers, he said, adding that till now it has failed to set up a single new taxi stand in the city.

The government has reduced the waiting charge of taxis two years ago, taxi operators alleged. Representatives of taxi drivers’ unions,including Citu leader Mr Anadi Sahu on Friday met principal secretary of state transport department Mr Alapan Bandyopadhyay demanding a solution to their long standing problem.

Representatives of Kolkata Taxi Operators’ Union affiliated to Aituc, CPI&’s labour arm, will decide tomorrow if they would join the two-day taxi strike.