Mumbai, Nov 4(NIE): AFTER drivers of cab aggregators Ola and Uber called off their 12-day strike on Friday, both app-based cab services witnessed a drop in bookings on Saturday. Many drivers also complained about not receiving the promised incentives from Uber on their rides.

On Friday, after State Transport Minister Diwakar Raote assured drivers that a new fare scheme, which will hike the base fares of their cab rides, would be introduced by November 15, drivers called off the strike.

Companies also promised to calculate fares factoring in the increase in fuel prices. As per the Diwali scheme, Uber drivers will receive a minimum incentive of Rs 825 after the second ride of the day and a maximum of Rs 20,000 after completing 45 rides.

Milind Kadam from the Maharashtra Rajya Kamgar Sangh that was staring the strike, said, “We are not getting the promised incentives. For example, they promised to offer us an incentive of Rs 4,000 if we take 10 rides, but they gave us less than Rs 2,000. Some drivers have expressed anger over this.” Kadam said, adding that many drivers did not receive any incentive on their rides at all.

The drivers agreed to roll back the strike before companies roll out the revised fare scheme from November 15. Ahead of Diwali, drivers claimed they will have to clock in additional work hours to be able to make up for the lost earnings of last week.

Ola driver Ansar Shaikh, who could not take any bookings over the past two weeks, said, “As those who were on strike attacked our cars, we did not take any bookings, out of fear. Though the strike is over, I only received three bookings till Saturday evening as compared to a minimum of 10. As commuters turned away from booking Ola rides due to surge pricing in the past two weeks, we are facing the brunt now. I’ll have to work additional hours to make up for the loss.”

Drivers have demanded an increase in base fares and compensation for maintenance cost. Due to the strike, there was a shortage of app-based cabs for 10 days, leading to a surge in prices by two to three times.

Ashwin Gupta, who prefers taking an Uber from Ghatkopar to Churchgate to reach his workplace, said, “Since the past one week, an Uber ride was Rs 800 as compared to the usual cost of Rs 350. While I can afford to pay this cost once, I did not book the car the next time. Till the required number of cars is back on the road, I would take a black-and-yellow cab to work.” There are 70,000 tourist cabs including Ola and Uber in the city.

Sources in Uber said drivers will be paid the incentives on a weekly basis. Ola has offered a Diwali incentive scheme to its drivers.

An Uber spokesperson said: “Uber is pleased to announce that independent driver partners registered with the Uber app in Mumbai will return to work immediately, effectively ending a 12-day-old strike. A special Diwali incentive for Uber drivers, who wished to resume driving, that was due to expire 5 November 2018, will now be extended till 15 November, 2018. Uber will also endeavour to examine a fuel price based earnings index to look at ways of making net earnings on the Uber platform more sustainable.’’