The indefinite strike, protesting the collection of toll from vehicles to and from the international airport in the city, was called off after the National Highways Authority of India invited the protesters for a meeting.
An indefinite taxi strike, protesting the collection of toll from vehicles to and from the international airport in the city, was called off after the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) invited the protesters for a meeting on Monday.
It has been estimated that as many as 13,000 cabs used to ply between the airport and the city daily, and the collection of toll would eat into their profits, which eventually would result in an increased taxi fare.
All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC), Bangalore Tourist
Taxi Owners Association (BTTOA) and Karnataka Maxi Cab and Taxi Association had called for an indefinite strike from Sunday midnight following the NHAI’s decision to collect toll from vehicles using the international airport road (NH-7) from Monday morning. The NHAI has already constructed a toll plaza near Sadahalli.
“After we had announced the indefinite strike, the NHAI officials on Sunday decided to hold discussions with us at their regional head office in Nelamangala on Monday. We called off the strike taking into consideration the scheduled meeting as well as its decision to postpone collecting tax at the plaza,” GR Shanmugappa, president of AIMTC, said.
The Bangalore International Airport KSTDC Owners and drivers’ Welfare Association and Federation of Karnataka Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FKCCI) had also joined the protest.
General secretary of BTTOA K Radhakrishna Holla said the toll could not be justified as the plaza in Sadahalli was situated within the city limits.
“The plaza is not 60km away from the next toll booth (the other toll plaza being situated on Hyderabad Airport Road). Hence our prime demand would be to shift the toll plaza beyond Devanahalli airport on the NH-7,” he said.
The associations have been demanding the construction of
service roads on either side of the plaza.
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