Lockdown-hit taxi drivers seek govt help

Parveen Arora

Tribune News Service

Karnal, May 29

The Covid pandemic has hit the business of taxi operators and drivers hard. The lockdown has been harsh, as they fend for themselves in the face of EMIs and house rent.

Sanjeev Dhamija, a local taxi operator, said: “I have four vehicles and the monthly instalment is Rs 2 lakh. Besides, I have to pay Rs 40,000 in salary to drivers. It has been difficult to manage for the past one-and-a-half months because of the Covid-induced lockdown. I request the state government to give some relief and defer the EMIs till the situation normalises.”

Another operator Raj Kumar has a similar story. “These are hard times. People avoid taking a taxi. Instead, they prefer their vehicles or buses. I have an EMI and house rent to pay. If I don’t get any government help, it will be difficult to make ends meet,” he said.

Rajeev, who owns two taxis, said: “Apart from fixed costs such as EMIs, house rent and drivers’ salary, I have to pay the school fee of my children.”