You are here: Home > Mumbai > Meru Taxis attacked in Malad

While taxis disappeared from Mumbai's roads this morning putting the commuters through a harrowing experience, privately-owned Meru taxis were attacked allegedly by the striking union men in Malad Thursday morning. No arrests were made, said early reports.

As people stepped out in the morning, the streets appeared deserted, as taxis and autorickshaws went on a 24-hour strike, which began at 12 am today. The taxi and rickshaw unions had set the deadline to stop plying vehicles from midnight. However, not all cab drivers abided by the deadline and ventured out till 1.30 am, a clear breach of one-and-half hour. 15:09
Meru Taxis attacked in Malad.



Deadline extended

Drivers have been warned that if a taxi or auto is seen plying on the road then it will be damaged. However, one such taxi driver Isthihar Ahmed who owns two taxis and has been driving them for last 40 years said, "Our vehicles will get damaged only if we ply tomorrow morning, else I am sure we can run our business in the night." Most of there drivers earn a measly sum of Rs 250-300 on an average every day.

Helpless drivers

There was another driver who started off from CST towards Andheri at 11.30 pm. He said, "I am aware that after midnight, I wouldn't be able to ply my taxi, but what can I do when there is already a passenger? I cannot ask him to get off mid-way."

The drivers argued that even those vehicles that are more than 25 years old, which are slated to be banned, aren't polluting.

"The state government asked us to install CNG cylinders to reduce pollution, which we did. Now they want to shut shop, even without providing us an alternative," said an auto driver.

Lalji Tiwari was the only taxi driver who suffered losses and a damaged taxi. "I was running an empty taxi at Grant Road at 12.10 am trying to find a parking space, when a group of people broke the windscreen and pelted stones." He will bear a loss of Rs 5,000.

Stranded people

People were seen trying to either coerce taxi and auto walas or private vehicles to give them a lift especially near railway stations. Meanwhile the state government has requested all private bus and taxi services to operate for a day.

The airports will be providing private taxi services for all passengers.