Strike forces 70% of taxis & autos off city roads

MUMBAI/NEW DELHI: Fuel supplies across the country were badly hit on the second day of the indefinite strike by oil PSU executives. In the national capital, where nearly 40% of IOC and BP petrol pumps were shut, car owners made a desperate bid to stock up on fuel.

Mumbai too was badly affected on Thursday . With nearly 80-90 of the city���s 132 CNG outlets downing shutters, almost 70% of autos and taxis went off the roads. ���It���s not even a question of long queues, CNG is just not available,������ said Mumbai Taximen���s Union president A L Quadros.

Belying oil companies��� claims, petrol dealers said that nearly 60% of the pumps were close to empty. Takeoffs were again delayed at Mumbai airport. With the transporters��� strike also on, home-makers , restaurants and their patrons have begun feeling the pinch. Late in the evening, CM Ashok Chavan threatened to invoke the tough ESMA against the strikers.