UNKEPT PROMISES

Uber, Ola drivers threaten indefinite strike from March 18

Drivers allege mismanagement by the cab aggregators leading to slump in business

cabs Ola and Uber had given big assurances to the drivers, but today they are unable to cover their costs, claim the drivers | File

Commuters who are dependent on cab aggregators Uber and Ola for everyday travel will have to look for alternative means next week. To mark their protest to unkept promises by the cab aggregators, Uber and Ola drivers have threatened to go on an indefinite strike from the midnight of Sunday.

The strike, expected to be observed in key cities like Mumbai, New Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Pune, among others, is likely to affect office goers.

"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," said Sanjay Naik of Maharashtra Navnirman Vahatuk Sena, who is organising the strike. 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.

He claimed that while taxi-hailing companies had 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.

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 per cent 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," he said, adding the drivers had approached MNS leader Raj Thackeray to intervene in the matter.

Other unions of Ola and Uber are also in support of the strike, Naik said.

"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 said.

While Ola declined to comment, an Uber spokesperson said termed the strike call as a speculative.