Nanjing taxi drivers suspend service

Taxi drivers in Nanjing City, east China's Jiangsu province, suspend their service to protest a decrease in the fuel surcharge on January 8, 2015. [Photo: Weibo]

Many Taxi drivers in Nanjing City in east China's Jiangsu Province have suspended their service since Thursday to protest a decrease in the fuel surcharge.

Many taxis gathered near the city's bus stations, train stations and airport, refusing to take passengers on Thursday. Those drivers have called on other drivers to join them through taxi-hailing apps and platforms.

The number of taxis gathered at Nanjing train station reached a few hundred on Thursday afternoon.

The situation continued Friday morning. According to residents, few taxis were on the road in the morning. Some people offered an extra 50 yuan to taxi drivers through taxi-hailing apps, yet the drivers still did not take passengers.

Passengers at train stations and airports have had to take the bus or subway.

According to taxi drivers, local government has cut the fuel surcharge from 2 yuan to 1 yuan. Many drivers have been calling for an increase in the base fare and lowered franchise fees via the government complaint hotline. However, their demands have not been answered.

Government officials are discussing the drivers' requests.

China bans private cars from taxi-hailing market