In Kolkata, around 30,000 taxis went off the road today seeking immediate hike in fares. Apart from daily office-goers, city-bound passengers at airports and at the busy railway stations of Howrah and Sealdah were affected by the strike. State transport minister Madan Mitra said he was trying to mobilise more buses to ferry passengers from the two stations. There were reports that force had been used to prevent willing taxi drivers so that they stay off roads. However, Bengal Taxi Association general secretary Bimal Kr Guha denied any use of force on taxi drivers who werenot participating in the strike that was called for demanding a revision in fares.