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Time of India
19-07-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Overcharging, arguments affect commuters as cabs, autos go on strike in city
Arguments with passengers and overcharging marred the indefinite strike called by aggregator app-based cab and auto drivers from Friday in the city. Among the worst affected were flyers arriving at the airport and struggling to find further travel options. A woman on her way to a doctor near Amanora Mall said she was mistreated by some autorickshaw drivers on strike. "I had hailed an auto and was on my way to the doctor when a group of other autorickshaw drivers stopped the driver. They snatched his cellphone and forcibly tried to pull me out of the vehicle, stating that a strike was on," she told TOI, choosing anonymity. "They paid no heed even when I said I had a doctor's appointment. When I screamed, they backed off a bit. The auto driver took the opportunity to drive off. How can they indulge in violence like this?" she said. Indian Gig Workers Front has called the strike in Pune, Mumbai and Nagpur demanding fare-by-meter system acknowledgement by state govt and scrapping of e-bike taxis . This story continues on page 4 in the newspaper. For your reading convenience we have added it below. No relief likely from cab & auto strike till Tuesday Pune: The strike called by cab and auto drivers affiliated to aggregator apps led to major inconvenience for commuters in the city on Friday. For instance, in the morning hours, a ride from NIBM Road to Pune airport (around 15km) by auto showed a fare of Rs430 against the normal Rs240 on the Uber app. If one booked an Uber XL, the fare reflected a whopping Rs1,461, and a ride via an Uber Sedan showed a fare of Rs777. A ride via UberGo showed a fare of Rs739, and if one wanted to ride in the Uber Premier category, the fare showed Rs1,096. Elsewhere in the city as well, auto prices almost doubled - a short ride from Karve Road to FC Road cost at least Rs70-80 by auto, versus the usual average of Rs40-50 on aggregator apps. By meter, the same cost comes to around Rs30. Arriving flyers at the airport in the early hours of Friday were especially hassled. Vivek Purekar, who had to go to Kothrud from the airport, said, "I booked an Uber cab, for which the fare is locked advance. Upon reaching the AeroMall from the arrival area, I was told that cab drivers were on strike and I had to take another mode of transportation. Many other flyers besides me were clueless about this. I then wasted around 30 minutes trying to cancel the pre-paid ride and had to take pre-paid autorickshaw to my destination." Ajinkya Bhavane, who came from Delhi and wanted to go to Kalyaninagar, was in for a shock too. "The cab pickup area at the AeroMall was practically empty, and even after repeated attempts over 30 minutes, I couldn't get any cabs. I came outside with my luggage and found an auto driver who asked me to pay Rs500 for the short distance, saying that there was a strike going on. I was in a hurryand had no choice," he rued. Ankit Rai, a Pune resident, wrote on X, "There are no cabs available to commute to work. The aggregator applications are showing triple times surge, and striking drivers are stopping cabs and assaulting the non-striking drivers and also passengers, resulting in passengers being left stranded on the road." Sonu Pandey, who was at the airport late on Thursday evening, also shared his plight on X and posted: "Last night, I witnessed five or six individuals acting like thugs, threatening and physically assaulting cab drivers, forcing them to cancel rides. Meanwhile, regular cabs were charging exorbitant fares - upwards of Rs2,000 for a mere 10km ride. This is a complete disaster." Keshav Kshirsagar, president of the Indian Gig Workers Front, accepted that incidents of violence occurred. "We have been appealing to striking drivers not to indulge in any violence and will continue to do so. On Friday, we also met some officials of the transport department who said they could arrange a meeting with all stakeholders by Tuesday. So, at present, the strike will be on until Tuesday at least until our demands are met," he told TOI. Earlier this year, the Indian Gig Workers Front announced that from May 1, cabs of Ola, Uber and Rapido should charge fares as per state govt-approved rates. App companies had said that for autos, they had already switched to a SaaS (software as a service) model, wherein commuters could book autos via the apps but then fares would be decided by mutual understanding. On May 1, the Gig Workers Front launched the website ' on which govt approved fares would reflect when details were entered. Pune RTO officials had told TOI that once the state aggregator policy comes into effect, this confusion will be cleared. "Once it comes into play, apps will have to adhere to norms and apply for a licence," Pune deputy RTO Swapnil Bhosle had earlier told TOI.
Time of India
19-07-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Overcharging, arguments affect commuters as cabs, autos go on strike in Pune
Pune: Arguments with passengers and overcharging marred the indefinite strike called by aggregator app-based cab and auto drivers from Friday in the city. Among the worst affected were flyers arriving at the airport and struggling to find further travel options. A woman on her way to a doctor near Amanora Mall said she was mistreated by some autorickshaw drivers on strike. "I had hailed an auto and was on my way to the doctor when a group of other autorickshaw drivers stopped the driver. They snatched his cellphone and forcibly tried to pull me out of the vehicle, stating that a strike was on," she told TOI, choosing anonymity. "They paid no heed even when I said I had a doctor's appointment. When I screamed, they backed off a bit. The auto driver took the opportunity to drive off. How can they indulge in violence like this?" she said. You Can Also Check: Pune AQI | Weather in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune Indian Gig Workers Front has called the strike in Pune, Mumbai and Nagpur demanding fare-by-meter system acknowledgement by state govt and scrapping of e-bike taxis . The strike called by cab and auto drivers affiliated to aggregator apps led to major inconvenience for commuters. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You To Read in 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo For instance, in the morning hours, a ride from NIBM Road to Pune airport (around 15km) by auto showed a fare of Rs430 against the normal Rs240 on the Uber app. If one booked an Uber XL, the fare reflected a whopping Rs1,461, and a ride via an Uber Sedan showed a fare of Rs777. A ride via UberGo showed a fare of Rs739, and if one wanted to ride in the Uber Premier category, the fare showed Rs1,096. Elsewhere in the city as well, auto prices almost doubled — a short ride from Karve Road to FC Road cost at least Rs70-80 by auto, versus the usual average of Rs40-50 on aggregator apps. By meter, the same cost comes to around Rs30. Arriving flyers at the airport in the early hours of Friday were especially hassled. Vivek Purekar, who had to go to Kothrud from the airport, said, "I booked an Uber cab, for which the fare is locked advance. Upon reaching the AeroMall from the arrival area, I was told that cab drivers were on strike and I had to take another mode of transportation. Many other flyers besides me were clueless about this. I then wasted around 30 minutes trying to cancel the pre-paid ride and had to take pre-paid autorickshaw to my destination. " Ajinkya Bhavane, who came from Delhi and wanted to go to Kalyaninagar, was in for a shock too. "The cab pickup area at the AeroMall was practically empty, and even after repeated attempts over 30 minutes, I couldn't get any cabs. I came outside with my luggage and found an auto driver who asked me to pay Rs500 for the short distance, saying that there was a strike going on. I was in a hurryand had no choice," he rued. Ankit Rai, a Pune resident, wrote on X, "There are no cabs available to commute to work. The aggregator applications are showing triple times surge, and striking drivers are stopping cabs and assaulting the non-striking drivers and also passengers, resulting in passengers being left stranded on the road." Sonu Pandey, who was at the airport late on Thursday evening, also shared his plight on X and posted: "Last night, I witnessed five or six individuals acting like thugs, threatening and physically assaulting cab drivers, forcing them to cancel rides. Meanwhile, regular cabs were charging exorbitant fares — upwards of Rs2,000 for a mere 10km ride. This is a complete disaster." Keshav Kshirsagar, president of the Indian Gig Workers Front, accepted that incidents of violence occurred. "We have been appealing to striking drivers not to indulge in any violence and will continue to do so. On Friday, we also met some officials of the transport department who said they could arrange a meeting with all stakeholders by Tuesday. So, at present, the strike will be on until Tuesday at least until our demands are met," he told TOI. Earlier this year, the Indian Gig Workers Front announced that from May 1, cabs of Ola, Uber and Rapido should charge fares as per state govt-approved rates. App companies had said that for autos, they had already switched to a SaaS (software as a service) model, wherein commuters could book autos via the apps but then fares would be decided by mutual understanding. On May 1, the Gig Workers Front launched the website ' on which govt approved fares would reflect when details were entered. Pune RTO officials had told TOI that once the state aggregator policy comes into effect, this confusion will be cleared. "Once it comes into play, apps will have to adhere to norms and apply for a licence," Pune deputy RTO Swapnil Bhosle had earlier said.
Time of India
18-07-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Arguments, fleecing affect passengers during cab and autorickshaw strike in Pune
1 2 Pune: Sporadic instances of arguments and fleecing in several parts of the city marred the strike called by aggregator app-based cab and auto drivers from Friday onwards. In particular, arriving flyers at the airport were majorly inconvenienced by the lack of options to travel to city areas. A woman on her way to a doctor near Amanora Mall said she was mistreated by a group of autorickshaw drivers on strike. "I hailed an auto on the road and was on my way to the doctor when a group of other autowallahs stopped the driver. They snatched away his cellphone and tried to pull me out of the vehicle forcibly, stating that a strike was on. They paid no heed even when I said I had a doctor's appointment. When I screamed, they backed off a bit. The auto driver took the opportunity to drive off. How can they indulge in violence like this?" she told TOI, choosing anonymity. You Can Also Check: Pune AQI | Weather in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune The indefinite strike has been called by the Indian Gig Workers Front in Pune, Mumbai and Nagpur. They demand that the fare-by-meter system in cabs be acknowledged as legal by state govt and the decision to operate e-bike taxis also be repealed. The strike led to major inconvenience for scores of commuters in Pune. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Only 2% Intraday Trader Do Market Profile & Book Maximum Profit. TradeWise Learn More Undo For instance, in the morning hours, a ride from NIBM Road to Pune airport (around 15km) by auto showed a fare of Rs430 against the normal Rs240 on the Uber app. If one booked an Uber XL, the fare reflected a whopping Rs1,461, and a ride via an Uber Sedan showed a fare of Rs777. A ride via UberGo showed a fare of Rs739, and if one wanted to ride in the Uber Premier category, the fare showed Rs1,096. Elsewhere in the city as well, auto prices almost doubled — a short ride from Karve Road to FC Road cost at least Rs70-80 by auto, versus the usual average of Rs40-50 on aggregator apps. By meter, the same cost comes to around Rs30. Arriving flyers at the airport in the early hours of Friday were especially hassled. Vivek Purekar, who had to go to Kothrud from the airport, said, "I booked an Uber cab, for which the fare is locked advance. Upon reaching the AeroMall from the arrival area, I was told that cab drivers were on strike and I had to take another mode of transportation. Many other flyers besides me were clueless about this. I then wasted around 30 minutes trying to cancel the pre-paid ride and had to take pre-paid autorickshaw to my destination. " Ajinkya Bhavane, who came from Delhi and wanted to go to Kalyaninagar, was in for a shock too. "The cab pickup area at the AeroMall was practically empty, and even after repeated attempts over 30 minutes, I couldn't get any cabs. I came outside with my luggage and found an auto driver who asked me to pay Rs500 for the short distance, saying that there was a strike going on. I was in a hurry to reach home and had no choice," he rued. Ankit Rai, a Pune resident, wrote on X, "There are no cabs available to commute to work. The aggregator applications are showing triple times surge, and striking drivers are stopping cabs and assaulting the non-striking drivers and also passengers, resulting in passengers being left stranded by the roadsides." Sonu Pandey, who was at the airport late on Thursday evening, also shared his plight on X and posted: "Last night, I witnessed five or six individuals acting like thugs, threatening and physically assaulting cab drivers, forcing them to cancel rides. Meanwhile, regular cabs were charging exorbitant fares — upwards of Rs2,000 for a mere 10km ride. This is a complete disaster." Keshav Kshirsagar, president of the Indian Gig Workers Front, accepted that incidents of violence occurred. "We have been appealing to striking drivers not to indulge in any violence and will continue to do so. On Friday, we also met some officials of the transport department who said they could arrange a meeting with all stakeholders by Tuesday. So, at present, the strike will be on until Tuesday at least until our demands are met," he told TOI. Earlier this year, the Indian Gig Workers Front announced that from May 1, cabs of Ola, Uber and Rapido should charge fares as per state govt-approved rates rather than fares reflecting on apps. App companies had said that for autos, they had already switched to a SaaS (software as a service) model, wherein commuters could book autos via the apps but then fares would be decided by mutual understanding between drivers and commuters. On May 1, the Gig Workers Front launched the website ' on which govt approved fares would reflect when details were entered. At present, many auto and cab drivers have been demanding fares as per the website, but this has created arguments between drivers and customers. State govt has not yet said whether the website is legal. Pune RTO officials had told TOI that once the state aggregator policy comes into effect, this confusion will be cleared. "We should have tightened the noose on aggregator-based vehicles moving without licence but we didn't so that customers don't feel the pinch. Now, we are waiting for the policy. Once it comes into play, apps will have to adhere to norms and apply for a licence," Pune deputy RTO Swapnil Bhosle had earlier told TOI. The Gig Workers Front has stated that since app-based services are operating without licences, the fare-by-meter system must be legally recognised by state govt.
Express Tribune
23-02-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
K-P govt to prioritise local hiring in MDs
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur, while clarifying his government's hiring policy for merged districts, stated that non-technical and local-level positions would be reserved exclusively for residents of those areas, with no recruitment from settled districts. For technical positions, he added, preference would be given to local candidates to ensure better efficiency and improved departmental performance. During his visit to the Agriculture Research Institute in Tarnab, the Chief Minister was accompanied by provincial ministers Major (Retd) Muhammad Sajjad and Pakhtun Yar, as well as the commissioner of Peshawar and senior agriculture department officials. As part of his visit, he inaugurated the newly established Center of Excellence, a state-of-the-art research facility built at a cost of Rs650 million to advance agricultural research in the province. To strengthen the agriculture sector, the Chief Minister also handed over 90 motorcycles, six tractors, and six mini-trucks to the agriculture department. He toured various stalls set up at the research institute, which showcased innovations and advancements in the sector. Addressing the inaugural ceremony, Gandapur emphasized the importance of utilizing national resources efficiently for economic development. He lamented that despite Pakistan's abundant natural resources, past governments had failed to leverage them wisely. He stressed the need for financial self-reliance to achieve true independence and reiterated his administration's commitment to strengthening provincial institutions both financially and operationally. Highlighting the critical role of research in enhancing agricultural productivity, he stated that the newly established Center of Excellence would be instrumental in achieving this goal. He reaffirmed the government's dedication to food security and increasing agricultural output, citing the expedited completion of long-pending small dam projects. Over the past year, these efforts have brought 400,000 kanals of land under cultivation. This year, the government aims to complete four additional small dam projects, adding another 400,000 kanals of arable land. He also noted progress on the CRBC Lift Canal project, which, once completed, will bring millions of acres of barren land under cultivation, significantly contributing to the country's food supply. "If we want to move forward, we must embrace change, identify weaknesses, and work collectively for national progress," he asserted. He urged a shift from personal interests to collective national development, calling it essential for sustainable growth. On Saturday, Gandapur visited Nowshera district, where he formally inaugurated the newly constructed Jaroba Dam. Built at a cost of Rs777 million, the 115-foot-high and 697-foot-wide dam is expected to bring 930 acres of barren land under cultivation by providing 4.65 cusecs of irrigation water. Additionally, a 6.15-kilometer-long canal has been constructed to facilitate irrigation in adjacent villages.
Express Tribune
22-02-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Gandapur inaugurates Nowshera dam
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur visited Nowshera district on Saturday where he formally inaugurated the newly constructed Jaroba Dam. He was accompanied by provincial ministers Aqibullah Khan and Mian Khalique-ur-Rehman, and Members of National Assembly (MNAs) and Members of Provincial Assembly (MPAs) from Nowshera. Constructed at a cost of Rs777 million, the 115-foot-high and 697-foot-wide dam is expected to bring 930 acres of barren land under cultivation by providing 4.65 cusecs of irrigation water. Additionally, a 6.15-kilometre-long canal has been constructed to facilitate irrigation in adjacent villages. Apart from irrigation, the dam will also improve water storage and supply for domestic use. It is set to provide 0.75 cusecs of drinking water that would benefit a population of 22,000 people. Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Ali Amin Gandapur said, "The provincial government has successfully completed the Jaroba Dam project and local communities should now utilize it". To address the drinking water shortage, he announced an additional Rs20 million for water supply projects in the area. Furthermore, he pledged the construction of the remaining two kilometres of road and announced the inclusion of a Rural Health Centre (RHC) in Jaroba in next year's budget. In a significant move to support underprivileged families, the Chief Minister announced a special solar system package for 250 deserving households in Jaroba. "The government is well aware of the challenges faced by the people and is committed to addressing them on a priority basis," he assured. Expressing concern over the region's underdevelopment, Gandapur lamented that it was unfortunate that the area still remained backward in this era. Addressing the youth, he urged them to pursue education and uphold strong moral values as these were the true pathways to progress. He emphasized that the provincial government was creating opportunities for the youth across all sectors to help them move forward in life.
