19 August,2015 10:35 AM IST | | Shashank Rao
Come Friday, be prepared to experience taxi and auto shortage across the city. And, for a change, this shortage can be attributed to striking CNG dealers instead of auto and taxi unions
Auto and taxi union
Come Friday, be prepared to experience taxi and auto shortage across Mumbai. And, for a change, this shortage can be attributed to striking CNG dealers instead of auto and taxi unions.
Auto and taxi union leaders claimed that even a day's strike by CNG dealers would result in 10 per cent of the fleet not plying. File pic for representation
It has been learnt that all the 140 CNG dealers in the city have threatened to go on an indefinite strike starting 6 am on August 21. The strike has been called to protest against the non-issuance of pending reimbursement by the Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs).
"We are entitled to receive reimbursement for two years (2012-14), which comes to a total of 0.32 paise per kg. Out of this, the OMCs have released just 0.18 paise and retained the remaining. This reimbursement is part of our wages and its non-issuance has resulted in dealers incurring losses worth crores. So, we have decided to go on an indefinite strike," said Ravi Shinde of the Federation of All Maharashtra Petrol Dealers Association (FAMPEDA).
Domino effect
Auto and taxi union leaders claimed that even a day's strike by CNG dealers would result in 10 per cent of the fleet not plying.
"Many drivers fill gas during nighttime. This strike will surely affect the number of cabs plying on the city's streets," said taxi union leader A L Quadros.
140
No of CNG dealers across Mumbai
38,000
No of black-and-yellow taxis in the city
1.04 lakh
No of autos plying in eastern and western suburbs
3,000
No of buses that run on CNG
