Angry Ola-Uber Drivers Want to Start Their Own App in Bengaluru

The app will be ready in a month’s time, drivers’ association says.

Ola-Uber strike (Photo: Altered by The Quint)

Tired of not being able to incite a response from either the cab-aggregating companies or the Transport Department, Ola and Uber drivers in Bengaluru are now thinking about introducing their own app.

According to Tanveer Pasha, President of the Ola, TaxiForSure and Uber Drivers’ Association, the drivers were slated to discuss the app’s logistics with former Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy on 1 March at Freedom Park during the hunger strike.

He has offered his support for the project, but we were unable to discuss it with him as he fell ill...The app will be ready in a month and we are working on other logistics like office space and hiring people for customer service among other things. As of now, 8,000 cab drivers are supporting this idea.

Tanveer Pasha, President of the Ola, TaxiForSure and Uber Drivers’ Association

Also Read: False Hopes & Few Perks: A Glimpse of Ola, Uber Drivers’ Plight

Heads of various drivers’ unions have formed a core-committee which will ensure that the app is launched successfully.

Drivers say the app will be funded by Kumaraswamy, and the JD(S) leader has promised the drivers help in hiring engineers to develop the app.

“Kumaraswamy told us not to bow down to the rules laid across by foreign companies and be our own masters. We only have 8,000 drivers to support us, and we are sure to gather the support of many others in the city,” Pasha added.

Pasha said that the drivers’ strike is still on, and although half of them have gone back to work, the other half is still protesting the dynamic pricing and many other issues.

Most of the drivers who went back to work were those who had leased their vehicles. Ola and Uber had bought many cabs, and had hired drivers after promising to give them the cars if they drove for the companies for a certain number of years. They had no other choice but go back to work.

Tanveer Pasha, President of the Ola, TaxiForSure and Uber Drivers’ Association

Also Read: 2000 Uber-Ola Drivers in Karnataka to Go on Strike on Monday

While some drivers welcome the move, others are apprehensive about its success.

“Ola and Uber are successful because of the cheap fares. The app that is suggested by the drivers’ unions, will work only if all the Ola and Uber drivers begin using the new app. I feel that no matter how many strikes we go on and whatever negative publicity these companies have received, customers still go back to them,” said Syed Tuglaq, an Uber driver.

While Syed is apprehensive of the proposed app’s success, a few others like Mohan GS hope that the taxi-aggregators will offer better incentives to drivers to retain their services. He added:

Ola and Uber may offer better incentives if this new app comes out. I hope so because unlike a few drivers, who have the freedom to support the new venture, some drivers like me don’t have the freedom. I still haven’t completed my lease period for this Uber cab. If I have to get out of this situation, I will have to work for Uber for another three years.