Statewide strike expected to also affect aggregator cabs’ bookings
Taxi unions warned that if auto drivers don’t show support, they won’t back their fight against Rapido. Representation pic/istock
Auto and taxi drivers across Maharashtra have announced a statewide strike on October 9, pressing for fare parity, a cap on commissions charged by ride-hailing companies, and a ban on bike taxis. The strike is expected to keep aggregator cabs and possibly autos too off the road, with a large number of cancellations and delays expected after bookings. Last time, those on strike had forced working aggregator drivers to join the strike, pulling a number of app cabs off the road.
Ride-hailing apps like Ola and Uber are expected to see longer wait times and a surge in pricing. Airport and railway station connectivity could also be hit, as union leaders have indicated that drivers serving these routes will participate in the strike. Office-goers, students, and hospital patients are advised to plan for delays and make alternative arrangements for their travel. Authorities are monitoring the situation closely and have appealed to unions to call off the strike. However, with no breakthrough in talks as of Wednesday evening, Mumbai commuters are bracing for a day of inconvenience.
Transport union leader Kshav Nana Kshirsagar, who is spearheading the agitation, said that the decision to strike was taken unanimously by drivers, who have pledged to keep their vehicles off the roads. The agitation coincides with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled visit to Mumbai, during which drivers plan to draw his attention to their grievances against the state transport minister and the functioning of app-based aggregators. The Regional Transport Office (RTO) has appealed to the drivers to reconsider the strike, presenting letters from Ola and Rapido that assured fairer rate structures.
However, union leaders remain sceptical, stressing that such letters hold little value until revised fares are visible on aggregator apps. “We have received numerous assurances in the past, but nothing has changed. This time, we will not back down,” Kshirsagar declared, emphasising that drivers in Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Nashik, and other cities are united in the movement.
The union has also called for stricter enforcement against bike taxis, which they claim threaten their livelihood. According to officials, more than 700 bike taxis have already been seized in the past two days. Kshirsagar urged commuters to report unauthorised bike taxi operations, particularly those with white number plates. While the leaders appealed for the strike to remain peaceful and within legal limits, they insisted that collective pressure was necessary to compel government action. “If auto drivers do not join us, we will step back from fighting Rapido on their behalf,” Kshirsagar warned.
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