Central Kolkata choked as CITU drivers union blocks Sealdah-Moulali demanding higher taxi rates

Traffic in central Kolkata came to a standstill on Monday afternoon as the CITU-affiliated driver's union launched a massive protest at the Molali crossing. The demonstrators blocked the major intersection, demanding a significant hike in fares from both the West Bengal government and app-based aggregators like Uber. The protest, which began in the morning, led to a three-hour-long blockade that crippled vehicle movement in the surrounding areas.

The union has put forward specific financial demands to address the rising operational costs for drivers. They are pushing for a fixed rate of 25 rupees per kilometer for non-AC trips and 30 rupees per kilometer for AC services. According to union representatives, the current fare structure is no longer sustainable, forcing them to call for this "indefinite" strike until their grievances are addressed by the authorities and the tech companies.

Local police arrived at the scene shortly after the blockade began to manage the growing chaos. Officers have been engaged in continuous negotiations with the union leaders to persuade them to clear the road and restore normalcy for commuters.