Mumbaikars did take a long walk

Strike proves BRTS will be a real boon
We must recognise that about 47% of citizens either walk or cycle to work. Barely 3% of the citizens use taxis or autorickshaws. By no count can you state that the taxi-auto strike has crippled life in the city. In fact, roads appeared to be clear and buses were not crowded because of the significantly improved service. In fact, this itself is good reason to feel that introducing BRTS will be really a boon to the harassed Mumbai citizen.

Salaries of government employees fluctuate with variations in Consumer Price Index. Taxi and auto drivers have no such hikes related to prevailing consumer prices. With relatively steep rise in CNG price, their operating costs increase substantially. Therefore, their demand in fare hike is justified.

However, the amount depends on three factors: inflation levels in the recent past, increase in CNG costs, and costs of maintenance. One should also consider costs of idling time due to lesser patronage.     
Sudhir Badami, transportation activist

Govt should tackle the issue seriously
The auto strike that has struck Mumbai needs to be dealt with maturity. After the railway motormen, now it’s the autos and cabs but the government continues to remain spineless as ever. Why should the public pay through their nose; today it’s the autos, tomorrow it will be something else and the public will keep suffering. The auto issue has been a cause for pain in Mumbai for ages. Traffic in Mumbai would be smooth if the Maharashtra government decided to take some concrete steps rather than remain a mute spectator as usual. They do not learn from their mistakes that they need to deal with auto unrest with maturity.
Deep Varma, manager

Strike is the best way to be heard
Yes, the demand by the rickshaw-wallahs is justified. This is because the government has increased the prices of CNG. This will put additional burden on the auto and cab drivers, and it is justified they want the fare to be increased. The common public is facing inflation and prices of all necessities has gone up. The government should intervene and solve these issues. It’s not just the commuters who are hapless, but also the drivers who are trying to earn two square meals a day. Actually, government has been ignoring their issues for a long time that they are left with no option but to resort to strikes nowadays to be heard.
Priya Poojari, lecturer

Ransom is fast becoming a habit 
The demand from auto drivers is justified since there has been no revision in the auto fare for quite sometime while taxi fares were revised last year. Due to the increase in the cost of fuel, the demand for a price hike is justified though not to the level demanded. Whether the stand-off between railway authorities and motormen or the dispute about fares for taxis/autos between the union and state government, ultimately the public is held to ransom. There seems to be no solution as ransom seems to have become the habit for anyone looking to get their demands met. I faced problems reaching work.    
Vishaal Shah, managing partner

The price hike & the strike not justified
I don’t think the demand for hike in fare or the strike is justified at all. Also, all the cabs are now running on CNG or LPG, prices of  which are way less compared to petrol. These striking unions take advantage of the commuters thinking that the government will have to buckle under the pressure. I did face trouble commuting today because I have to travel from Walkeshwar to Sion and it was difficult getting in to a bus as they were overcrowded and the traffic was also bad. I just hope the problem is resolved soon as the public has no clue about the strike and is usually caught off guard.
Bhawana Manral, client service exec

Auto fare will have to be revised
There has been a hike in the gas price. So there is no option for the government but to increase the fare for autos and cabs. The problem is that the government keeps decisions pending till the last stage when the union decides to go on a strike. My question is why does the government always wake up only after the commuters are put through hardships because of delayed decision. The transport minister has to revise the rate card for the survival of the drivers in a city like Mumbai. I had to walk in the humid climate from Kandivli Link Road to the station and it took me half an hour.  
Ranjit Singh, Sr accounts exec