Kolkata:
Taxis in West Bengal that operate under the banner of Bengal Taxi Association (BTA) would remain off the roads on Wednesday in support of its demand for hike in fares.
BTA General Secretary Bimal Guha said that instead of 48-hours strike, they would observe 24-hours taxi strike on Wednesday because of Ramzan month.
Mr Guha, however, threatened to go on a 48-hours or 72-hours strike by the end of August or early September, if their demands were not met.
State Transport Minister Madan Mitra, however, ruled out any hike in taxi or bus fares in the state and claimed that over 30,000 taxis would be seen operating on Wednesday despite the BTA-sponsored taxi strike.
Most of the private buses in the state are also likely to remain off the roads on July 31 as talks between the state government and different transport unions to avert the impasse failed on Monday.
The Minibus operators, however, would not be a party to the July 31 strike.