A group of app-based cab drivers in Gurugram has announced a strike on Monday, demanding mandatory KYC for passengers, citing surging safety fears and zero accountability. On Saturday, the group gathered outside sector 46 to share their problems and call for action.
They highlighted incidents of assaults and threats that left them vulnerable. They also pointed to the fact that drivers face rigorous checks, but riders don't.
One driver who spoke to Hindustan Times said, "What about our safety? We also need protection from fake passengers."
The primary reason for the strike is the increasing number of safety risks posed by fake or unverified passengers.
They said that some of the customers misuse the service, behave badly and sometimes even attack drivers during rides.
They referred to one incident where a 25-year-old cab driver, Suraj Singh, was strangled to death by passengers in January this year in Sector 37.
While drivers complete strict KYC checks before joining the platforms, the customers are not required to do so. They said passengers should go through an Aadhaar or a valid ID verification making KYC verification mandatory for all users.
Drivers also said that in-app safety features like the SOS and panic buttons as ineffective. They said both the police and the companies fail to respond swiftly in crises, exposing them to grave risk.
Residents in the city reported travel delays during the strike on Saturday. They said that they had to wait for longer times and that their journey took longer than normal.