Delhi NCR Auto & Taxi Drivers Launch Two-Day Strike Against Ola, Uber

Auto and taxi drivers in Delhi NCR launched a two-day strike today (August 22) to protest against app-based cab services like Ola and Uber.

As per Network18’s report, the strike, organised by over 15 unions, will continue till August 23.

The strike call comes on the back of alleged dominance by app-based services in the transportation sector, resulting in reduced income and customers of traditional drivers, which they claim to be significantly impacting their livelihoods.

As per the report, unions also claimed that despite raising concerns, neither the central nor the state governments have taken any action in favour of the protesters on the issue.

“For several years, we have been writing to governments and departments about companies like Ola and Uber, but no one listens. These companies present their side, and the government presents its side, but these businesses operate as a game of donations, with the government also involved. We demand an end to this game, ” president of Delhi Auto Taxi Transport Congress Union Kishan Verma was quoted as saying by news agency IANS.

This comes weeks after autorickshaw and cab drivers staged a protest in Bengaluru for a day, seeking action against unauthorised bike taxis, and the Karnataka transport department issued an order to conduct a special enforcement drive against these services.

The autorickshaw and cab drivers laid siege to the transport department’s head office in Shanti Nagar area, protesting against bike taxis and implementing a ‘one city, one cab fare’, as per reports.

Given the surge in dependency of apps by consumers to avail almost every basic service such as grocery delivery, ride-hailing, retail shopping and personal grooming, businesses that do not use technology means to render their service have been substandardly hit in terms of income and livelihood.

Verma also said, “Employment for auto and taxi drivers, which is being affected or taken away, must be addressed. Private Ola and Uber taxis are involved in smuggling, and there is also trade in alcohol and drugs. To address these issues, we are going on strike. The organisation has decided that on August 22 and 23, all auto and taxi services in Delhi NCR will be suspended.”

The union territory has been seeing protests on this issue since 2016, where Delhi Autorickshaw Sangh and Delhi Pradesh Taxi Union called for an indefinite strike against app-based taxi services in Delhi-NCR.

Meanwhile, the national capital alongside Mumbai recently saw the delivery executives stage protests disrupting services in parts of these cities, over a recent change in Blinkit’s weekend’s payout structure for the delivery executives.