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Cab chaos grips the city as drivers demand fair pay, lower commissions, and protection under new labour laws.
Drivers demand fair pay, less commission, and stronger protections under the Gig Workers’ Act. (Representative Image)
Drivers working with popular ride-hailing apps like Ola, Uber, and Rapido have gone on strike across Mumbai, Pune, and Nagpur.
The protest, which began mid-week, is set to grow bigger with a sit-in planned at Azad Maidan in South Mumbai today. Already, nearly 70 percent of these cabs are off the road, affecting thousands of daily commuters.
Passengers have been left stranded, especially at airports and railway stations. The Mumbai airport authorities have advised people to check transport options before travelling.
Why are drivers protesting?
The striking drivers are demanding better pay and working conditions. Their key demands include:
- Fare parity with traditional black-and-yellow taxis
- A ban on bike taxis
- A limit on new auto-rickshaw and taxi permits
- Lower commission rates charged by app companies
- A fixed base fare for stable income
- Formation of a welfare board for app-based drivers
- A new Maharashtra Gig Workers’ Act
The drivers say that their earnings have dropped sharply due to high app commissions and rising fuel costs, making it hard to survive.
Has the government responded?
Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik met with driver representatives earlier in the week. However, no concrete solutions were offered, and drivers remain firm on continuing their strike. As per Times Now News, Sarnaik said, “We explained everything, but the protest is still on. That’s not right.”
How is the strike affecting people?
With fewer cabs available, wait times have soared and dynamic pricing has shot up. Morning and evening rush hours have become a nightmare for many. School runs and airport pickups are worst hit, with reports of over 30-minute wait times and multiple cancellations.
What’s next?
Until both sides reach a resolution, the disruption is likely to continue. Drivers say they want fairer earnings and more respect for their work. Meanwhile, commuters can only hope for a quick end to the deadlock.
Samreen Pall, Senior Sub-Editor at News18, is a Computer Science graduate but a writer at heart, Samreen has one motto that she swears by: ‘Everything is dull and useless if it has no drama in it.’ This motto c…Read More
Samreen Pall, Senior Sub-Editor at News18, is a Computer Science graduate but a writer at heart, Samreen has one motto that she swears by: ‘Everything is dull and useless if it has no drama in it.’ This motto c… Read More
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