Here's why 30,000 Uber, Ola drivers are protesting in Bengaluru

On Monday, at least 30,000 Uber and Ola cabs went off Bengaluru roads. The drivers of these cabs staged a protest against the app-based aggregator companies. The drivers are extremely unhappy with the differential fares that Uber and Ola levy on their customers. Uber and Ola cab drivers have come up with their own set of demands which they are seeking from the state government.

 

The state transport minister Ramalinga Reddy has already said that he will discuss these issues with the management of Uber and Ola. The drivers’ union has already handed their petition of demands to Reddy on Monday during the Road Safety Week programme.

So here are the demands of the Ola, Taxiforsure and and Uber Drivers Union (OTU):

 

** OTU demands a flat rate as approved by the government ₹ 19.5/km (for AC vehicles) and ₹ 14.5/km (for non-AC vehicle). Currently, Uber Ola and Uber charge ₹ 6/7 per km depending on the type of the car.

 

** They also want to stop the cab sharing services. 

 

** They also decided to give up the incentives offered by the companies on fulfilling certain number of duties.

** OTU also wants the aggregators to get rid of the penalties levied on the drivers for cancelling rides, arriving late for customer pick up and average rating received from the customers.

 

** OTU does not want flat rates from airports. They also have to pay the toll of ₹ 120 from their pockets unlike Mega, Meru and KSTDC taxis.

 

However, Ola and Uber do charge a fixed base fare and ride time charges are extra. But the demands seem unrealistic. If the rates are hiked from ₹ 6/7 per km directly to ₹ 19.5/ km, the trips are going to become very expensive, especially to and fro airport rides.

"Last month, they offered ₹ 450 flat rate for airport rides and toll is paid from our pockets. But we take three to four hours to ferry passengers from Electronic City or Whitefield to the airport which would cost ₹ 900 or more. This is unfair as airport taxis (Meru/Mega/KSTDC) still go by the government approved fares and toll is paid by the customers," Tanveer Pasha, president of the OTU union said.

 

Moreover, Uber and Ola do have surge fares during peak hours and in the weekend and the management of the aggregators will find it difficult to deny the fact. Also, the drivers’ demand of getting rid of the penalties is not feasible. The customers have faced issues that the drivers themselves have mentioned in their petition.