Click to play videoMumbai: Commuters were in Mumbai were left stranded on Thursday with the taxi and autorickshaws on strike. The autorickshaw and taxi drivers were protesting the phasing out of 25-year-old vehicles and demanding fare hikes.
It was an uncommon sight in Mumbai with its deserted roads, long lines of empty taxis and distressed commuters looking for transportation.
About 55,000 taxis and more than a lakh autorickshaws stayed off the roads following a 24 hour strike called by the major taxi and autorickshaw unions.
Harrowed commuters took to the Best buses to reach their destinations, but even then they couldn't make it on time.
"I came to the stand and realised that there was a strike. Now I've been waiting for a bus for 10 minutes and I'm late already for work," said one hassled commuter.
Another commuter affected by the strike said, "I am psyched because I'm late for work and my bosses are getting angry with me as they're screaming on the phone."
The strike was called to demand a hike in fare and to protest the phasing out of taxis older than 25 years.
The strike was also called against the proposal to make electronic metres mandatory. The protestors have threatened to fight hard till the demands met.
"If the Deputy Chief Minister and Chief Minister don't listen to us, then we will go on an indefinite strike after Diwali," said auto and taxi union leader, Sharad Rao.
The government is considering the taxi drivers' demands, but for thousands of Mumbaikars it has been a struggle commuting to work and back.
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