Ola, Uber services hit by driver strike in Mumbai, commuters face disruptions; Mumbai Airport issues advisory

Economic Times

6 days ago

App-based cab services in the Mumbai metropolitan region continued to be disrupted for the third consecutive day on Thursday as drivers working with platforms such as Ola and Uber intensified their strike demanding fare revisions and better working conditions.
Kiran Kshirsagar, president of the Maharashtra Gig Works Manch, said nearly 90% of app-based cabs were off the roads on Wednesday, reported PTI. The protest is aimed at pushing for a fare hike and better regulations for gig workers in the transport sector. The group had met Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik earlier this week, but Kshirsagar said the absence of a clear commitment prompted them to continue the agitation.
Travel woes at Mumbai Airport
Passengers travelling to and from Mumbai Airport faced major delays, with limited cab availability due to the ongoing strike. The airport authority posted a travel advisory on X (formerly Twitter), requesting passengers to arrange alternative transport and plan their travel accordingly. — CSMIA_Official (@CSMIA_Official)
What are the drivers demanding?
According to a PTI report, the Maharashtra Gig Works Manch has listed several key demands:
Fare parity with conventional 'Black & Yellow' taxis (Rs 32/km for AC cabs)
A ban on bike taxis operating through aggregator apps
Permit caps for black-and-yellow taxis and auto-rickshaws
Formation of a welfare board for gig-based transport workers
Introduction of a 'Maharashtra Gig Workers' Act' modeled on policies adopted by other states "The cab aggregators are charging hefty commissions while offering drivers as low as Rs 8 per km," said Kshirsagar, as quoted by PTI.
As online cab bookings failed or showed long wait times, many commuters shifted to municipal buses operated by BEST, autorickshaws, or walked to nearby railway and metro stations to complete their journeys.