A number of taxi unions have called a 48-hour taxi strike beginning 6am on July 25 to protest the state government’s alleged indifference towards the problems faced by the operators.

Around 20,000 of the 35,000-odd taxis in and around the city may stay off the road if the unions go ahead with their plan.

“We have been trying for some time to draw the attention of the state government to some of our long-standing demands. Transport minister Madan Mitra had assured us that some measures would be taken to redress our grievances. But nothing has happened and we have been left with the only option of calling a strike,” said Bimal Guha of the Bengal Taxi Association, which is leading the group of four unions that have called the strike.

The minister appeared unfazed in the face of the strike calls. “There are still 20 days left before the threatened strike. The government knows how to tackle such calls, which have become routine now,” Mitra told Metro. The Progressive Taximen’s Union that the minister heads is not a party to the call.

The group of four unions has been demanding that the night tax on taxi fare be increased from 15 to 30 per cent and that it remain effective from 8pm to 6am, instead of 10.30pm to 4.30am, as is the practice now.

They have also called for an increase in the minimum fare from Rs 22 to Rs 30 and “prompt delivery” of driving licences to those who apply for renewal.

The last time the city witnessed a taxi strike was on April 19. It continued 24 hours.