Delhi: Drivers associated with major ride-hailing platforms, including Uber, Ola and Rapido observed a day-long strike on Saturday, demanding changes to fare structures and clarity on safety compliance norms, particularly the mandatory installation of panic buttons.
The protest was called by the Maharashtra Kamgar Sabha, which said app-based taxi and autorickshaw operators across the country stayed off the roads to highlight what they described as unfair policies of ride aggregators and regulatory confusion at the state level. The union said the shutdown was also aimed at opposing the operation of bike taxi services, which it termed unauthorised.
In a statement, the drivers’ body alleged that the requirement to install panic button devices has placed an unexpected financial burden on drivers. While the Centre has approved around 140 vendors for such devices, the union claimed that state authorities have classified nearly 70 per cent of them as unauthorised.
“This has forced drivers to remove devices that were already installed and purchase new ones at a cost of about ₹12,000 each, leading to avoidable expenses and distress,” the statement said.
Apart from safety compliance issues, the union flagged concerns over declining earnings due to the rising number of autorickshaws operating under the open permit policy. Drivers also accused authorities of failing to protect passengers involved in accidents linked to illegal bike taxi operations, alleging that insurance claims in such cases are often denied.
The protest adds to ongoing tensions between app-based drivers, aggregators and regulators, with drivers insisting on a minimum base fare and a more effective grievance redressal mechanism to address what they say are long-standing issues affecting their livelihoods.
