Striking taxi drivers in the central China city of Yueyang, Hunan Province, are back on the road after the local government promised to get companies to reduce drivers' monthly fees.

The city's 1,600 taxis resumed operation Wednesday, said Fu Hongbo, an official in charge of passenger services at the urban management bureau of Yueyang.

"The city government told taxi drivers to suspend paying their monthly fees until further notice," he said. "Meanwhile, a team of investigators from the local pricing and city management authorities are working on a fee cutting plan."

The government had committed to publish the plan by April 25, he said.

Dozens of drivers parked their cabs outside an office building of the Yueyang city government Friday, demanding a cut in fees, better treatment by taxi companies and a crackdown on illegal unlicensed cabs.

More drivers joined the strike Saturday. Some taxis still in operation were stopped, smashed and their drivers were beaten. Police detained 11 people for allegedly forcing drivers into the strike.

Yueyang has 11 taxi firms which employ 3,000 drivers who operate 1,600 taxis. Under an agreement with the companies, each driver must pay the company about 6,400 yuan (941 U.S. dollars) per month. Striking drivers said they were paying too much and not making enough.

Last year, taxi strikes were reported in several cities including Chongqing, Sanya of Hainan Province and Shantou of Guangdong Province.

Drivers in those cities resumed work after local authorities promised to reduce rental fees and crack down on illegal cabs.

(Xinhua News Agency April 15, 2009)