Drivers of route taxis went on a strike in Astrakhan

Over 50 route taxi drivers of Astrakhan discontented with the actions of municipal Administration suspended work, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports.

According to Damir Bulatov, Vice-President of Urban-vehicle transport association (UVTA), this decision was caused by prohibitive measures taken by Mayor's office of Astrakhan.

"The entrepreneurs operating at the current routes received letters from municipal Administration informing that they had no right to operate since April, 13. These are routes No 1, 25, 33, 63 and 64. Presently, a tender on a number of operating routes was announced which means that the number of entrepreneurs with whom contracts will be abrogated will increase. Therefore suggestions to stop work since the next day were made at the meeting", Damir Bulatov said on April, 12.

According to him, a meeting of entrepreneurs devoted to traffic safety was planned on April, 12. However, the attempts to rent a hall failed, so, the entrepreneurs gathered in Sovietskaya street.

Vice-President of UVTA emphasized that the drivers took the decision to suspended work by themselves and the Association was going to appeal against the decision of Mayor's office in the arbitrage.

On April, 12, leader of the oppositional movement in Astrakhan Oleg Sheiyn had a meeting with the owners and drivers of route taxis, "Rosbalt" reports.

In his turn, Mikhail Stolyarov to whom the claims of the participants of route taxi network were presented declared that he was not going to oppress the route taxi drivers and owners. "The city always needs the route taxis, especially at problem lines now. We will find the optimum alternative convenient for both the old residents and the beginners at the transport market. Still the interests of the townsmen will remain the first-priority ones", "Province.ru" quotes Stolyarov.