BEST, state transport buses, autorickshaws and taxis are to go off the roads on this day, protesting against three new government notifications to introduce maxi-cabs, make electronic meters compulsory and a draft notification reducing the age of commercial vehicles to nine years.

The taximen also protested against a new notification that will bring about a 10-fold increase in fees for replacement of lost licences. It presently costs Rs 20 to replace a lost license, it will be increased to Rs 250 from August 1.

``This government is bringing in a lot of notifications through the back door without publishing them in any newspapers,'' says A L Quadros, General Secretary of the taximen's union. Representatives of the taxi union are scheduled to meet state transport minister Gajanan Kirtikar with their demands onMonday, the general secretary informed.