Daijiworld Media Network – Mumbai
Mumbai, Jul 18: Commuters in Mumbai faced yet another day of hardship as the indefinite strike by app-based cab drivers of Ola, Uber, and Rapido entered its fourth consecutive day on Friday, July 18. The agitation, which has already seen major disruptions in transportation across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, is now set to escalate further with a large-scale protest planned at Azad Maidan in south Mumbai.
According to Dr K N Kshirsagar, president of the Maharashtra Gig Kamgar Manch, drivers have been left with no choice but to intensify their protest due to the lack of progress in talks with the government. “No deliberations took place after our meeting with state transport minister Pratap Sarnaik on Tuesday. The cabbies will now stage a sit-in protest at Azad Maidan,” he told news agency PTI.
The key demands being raised include:
• Rationalisation of fares to bring parity with metered cabs and autos
• Ban on bike taxis in Mumbai
• Cap on the number of cab and auto permits issued
• Establishment of a welfare board for cab and auto drivers
• Implementation of the Maharashtra Gig Workers’ Act
The strike has crippled app-based transport services in the city. As per reports, nearly 90% of the vehicles operating under Ola, Uber, and Rapido remained off the roads on Thursday, with a similar trend observed on Friday. The situation has especially impacted high-traffic areas such as airports, railway stations, and major commercial hubs.
In a concerning development, videos have surfaced on social media showing striking drivers confronting fellow drivers who continued to operate despite the protest. They were reportedly forced to stop taking rides and join the strike.
The protest has also extended to Pune and Nagpur, where similar disruptions have been reported.
With no immediate resolution in sight and no fresh discussions initiated by the authorities, the agitating drivers have vowed to continue their strike until their demands are addressed.
Meanwhile, thousands of daily commuters remain in the lurch, relying on limited public transport and skyrocketing surge fares from the few cabs still operating.