Kolkata: Taxi services are likely to be hit in the metropolis for the ninth time since August following a strike call Dec 8 by labour organisation Centre of Indian Trade Union (CITU), demanding a fare hike and protesting alleged police atrocities on drivers.

The CITU - the labour arm of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) - also wants police to withdraw pending cases against 25 taxi drivers, who were arrested in August during a rally in the bustling city hub Esplanade.