Drivers of cab aggregators Uber and Ola have threatened to go on an indefinite strike from midnight of 18 March.
The strike is expected to be observed in key cities like Mumbai, New Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Pune, among others.
Sanjay Naik of Maharashtra Navnirman Vahatuk Sena, who is organising the strike, said:
Ola and Uber had given big assurances to the drivers, but today they are unable to cover their costs. They have invested Rs 5-7 lakh, and were expecting to make Rs 1.5 lakh a month but are unable to even make half of this, owing to the mismanagement by these companies.
Naik further alleged that these taxi-hailing companies are giving first priority to company-owned cars rather than driver-owned vehicles, causing a slump in their business.
While taxi-hailing companies offered loan-guarantee letters to drivers through the Mudra scheme, and that too without any verification, they are defaulting on repayment now as their costs are not covered, he claimed.
In Mumbai alone there are over 45,000 cabs on these aggregators but due to the slump in business, there has been a fall of 20 percent in the number of cabs running on these platforms in the city.
If our demands are not met, we will go on an indefinite strike. Other unions of Ola and Uber are also in support of the strike.Sanjay Naik
He also said that the drivers had approached MNS leader Raj Thackeray to intervene in the matter
The transport department should take strict action as these taxi-hailing companies are violating permit conditions, and also encroaching on the taxi-rickshaw business. It is good they are going on strike.Al Quadros, General Secretary, Mumbai Taximen’s Union
While Ola declined to comment, an Uber spokesperson said termed the strike call ‘speculative’.
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)