Cab chaos grips Mumbai, Pune, and Nagpur as drivers demand fair pay, lower commissions, and protection under new labour laws. Drivers working with the popular ride-hailing apps have gone on strike across the three cities, News18 reported.
The protest, which began mid-week, is set to grow bigger with a sit-in planned at Azad Maidan in South Mumbai on Friday. As per the report, nearly 70 percent of these cabs are already off the road, affecting thousands of 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, the report added.
Why are drivers protesting?
The 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, the formation of a welfare board for app-based drivers, and 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.
As per the report, 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."
Now, until both sides resolve, the disruption is likely to continue. Drivers were quoted by News 18 as saying that they want fairer earnings and more respect for their work.
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