Private buses and most of the taxis went off the roads in Kolkata on Tuesday following a 48-hour strike call given by the transport operators in support of their demands which included a hike in fare.

Government buses and trams were, however, plying.

Police sources said a few private buses and taxis were also running.

Being a weekday, people had a tough time reaching their destinations. Outside the busy Howrah and Sealdah rail stations, very few taxis could be seen.

Transport Minister Subhas Chakraborty on Monday said the state government would announce the fare hike in four to five days after discussing the issue in the Left Front.

Operators associations, Bengal Bus Syndicate and Joint Council of Bus Syndicate, however, said they have no information about the fare hike.

The strike was called demanding withdrawal of cess on diesel and petrol and hike in fares among other things.