City’s kaali-peeli cab drivers on Thursday night sought a hike of Rs 2 in the minimum fare with immediate effect after the prices of CNG went up twice in 10 days. The taxi drivers said they are losing about Rs 60 a day with the existing fare structure in which the base fare is R25. Taxi trade unions have now approached the state government seeking urgent intervention. 

The price of compressed natural gas (CNG) was first raised from Rs 51.98 to Rs 54.57 per kg on October 4. It then went up to Rs 57.54 per kg from Thursday midnight, said Anthony L Quadros, general secretary of Mumbai Taximen Union. “We strongly protest against the increase in the price of CNG by Mahanagar Gas Ltd. which is supplying the fuel in Mumbai. Due to this increase of Rs 5.56 per kg in CNG price, taxi operators are losing Rs 60 per day,” he said. Quadros has made a representation to Ashok Kumar Singh, Maharashtra’s additional chief secretary of transport, to revise the minimum fare by Rs 2 for black and yellow taxis with immediate effect.