Ola, uber strike delhi, mumbai commuters suffer; top 10 developments

1. Ola, Uber strike: Delhi, Mumbai commuters suffer; Top 10 developments Do you use Ola and Uber for your daily commute? If yes, you may want to find other modes of transport. Commuters in Mumbai suffered as drivers of the app- based cab aggregators Ola and Uber today went on an indefinite strike called by the transport wing of the Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena. "Talks are underway with the app-based cab aggregators. A decision on (calling off) the strike is expected tomorrow," Sanjay Naik, president of the Maharashtra Navnirman Vahtuk Sena, told PTI here. The strike was called to protest the low earnings of drivers operating cabs for Ola and Uber, Naik said. Office commuters, who use the app-based service daily, were in for a longer wait today as the number of such cabs was less owing to the strike.

2. "I faced the same issue. No cabs agreed to come from Parel to Powai," tweeted hotelier Benaifer Kapadia. While Naik said almost 99 per cent of the around 1.30 lakh such cabs were off the roads today, Ola and Uber did not quantify the number of such cabs. Naik said drivers of these cabs are not able to cover costs due to the falling business. "We expect the cab companies to discuss with the government how they can come at par with the black and yellow taxis, and other public modes of transport," Naik said. The Mumbai Police rubbished reports that the strike supporters stopped cars in the suburban Marol and Ghatkopar areas and broke the windshields of Ola and Uber cabs, which were not a part of the strike. Uber said the company was committed to serve its customers. "We regret the disruption caused to our rider and driver community by a small group of individuals. We remain committed to serving the city, ensuring driver partners can continue to access stable earning opportunities, while giving riders a convenient option to get around their city," Uber said in a statement. In Mumbai alone, there are over 45,000 Ola and Uber cabs but a slump in business has seen a drop of about 20 per cent in their numbers. Meanwhile, the police has issued notices to leaders of the union under section 149 of CrPC relating to unlawful assembly. Ola spokesperson told Business Standard through an email, "We have been informed by the Mumbai Police that they have proactively taken all the necessary steps to ensure the safety of commuters during their cab rides in the city."

3. Meanwhile, a cab driver, Santosh Yadav in Mumbai condemned the strike. He said, "I am totally against this strike, as this is being conducted by a small group of drivers". The driver alleged that most of the protesting drivers are 'blacklisted'. "Majority of them are blacklisted drivers, removed by the app taxi companies for misconduct against customers", he said. Here are the top 10 developments of the Ola, Uber strike: 1. Ola, Uber drivers’ strike starts: The transport wing of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena has organised the indefinite strike of drivers of cab aggregators Uber and Ola starting today. The Ola and Uber drivers are demanding extra pay as a surge in the number of cabs on the two platforms, coupled with cutbacks in incentive payments, have stung drivers. While taxi-hailing companies offered loan-guarantee letters to drivers through the Mudra scheme and that too without any verification, they are defaulting on repayment now as their costs are not covered, Naik claimed. Other taxi unions, including the Mumbai Taximen's Union, have extended support. 2. MNS leader breaks taxi windshield: The business of other transport modes, especially autos and normal taxis has often been reported to have taken a plunge in ridership ever since Uber and Ola forayed in India. Showing his agnst agains this, MNS leader Nitin Nandgaonkar today afternoon broke the windshield of either an Ola or an Uber cab. Article By - Business Standard