Kolkata, July 27 -- A 12-hour App-cab strike called by the CITU-backed app-cab drivers' union affected commuters across Kolkata on Monday, with passengers at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport and Howrah and Sealdah stations reporting difficulty in getting cabs and higher fares.
The strike, observed from 6 am to 6 pm, was called in support of an 11-point charter of demands, including fare revision, better incentives, resolution of the CNG shortage and an end to alleged police harassment. The impact was most visible at the airport and the two major railway stations, where passengers reported long waits as ride requests were repeatedly cancelled or no cabs were available.
A passenger arriving from Bengaluru said the app showed a fare of around Rs 750-800 for her destination, but a driver demanded Rs 2,200. "I have been trying to book a cab for nearly an hour, but the app keeps showing no cars available," she said.
At Sealdah station, a woman passenger alleged that a trip to the airport, which normally costs Rs 500-600, was being quoted at Rs 1,000-1,200. Passengers at Howrah station also reported long waits and alleged that the few cabs available demanded significantly higher fares.
The strike also affected parts of the city beyond the transport hubs. At Kestopur, supporters of the strike appealed to app-cab drivers on the road to join the protest, causing brief traffic disruption.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.