In a powerful show of dissent, app-based cab drivers associated with platforms like Ola, Uber, and Rapido have launched a widespread strike across Mumbai, Pune, and Nagpur, citing shrinking earnings and exploitative working conditions. The ongoing protest, now entering its fourth day, has disrupted mobility for thousands of daily commuters, causing chaos at airports, railway stations, and key public transit points.

According to union estimates, nearly 70% of app-based cabs have gone off the roads, severely affecting transportation during peak hours, school commutes, and airport pickups. Frustrated passengers are facing inflated fares and long wait times, with several left stranded due to the lack of available rides.

At the heart of the protest are long-standing grievances that drivers say have been ignored by aggregators and state authorities alike. Among the key demands are:

1. Fare parity with traditional black-and-yellow taxis at ₹32 per kilometre
2. Ban on bike taxis, citing safety risks and unfair competition
3. Permit restrictions to prevent market overcrowding from new taxis and auto-rickshaws
4. Reduced commission rates charged by app companies
5. A fixed base fare to ensure income stability
6. Formation of a welfare board for gig workers
7. Implementation of a Maharashtra Gig Workers’ Act to legally safeguard app-based drivers

Drivers allege that rising fuel prices, combined with high commission cuts by app aggregators, have rendered the profession financially unsustainable. “Every trip feels like a loss. We need policy changes now, or this strike will only grow stronger,” said one protester outside a suburban railway station in Mumbai.

Despite a meeting held earlier this week between drivers’ unions and Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik, no concrete resolutions have emerged. Frustration is mounting among the drivers, who are now planning a mass sit-in protest at Azad Maidan, demanding the government step in with immediate reforms.

In the meantime, the Mumbai airport authorities have issued an advisory urging travelers to arrange alternative transportation and plan journeys well in advance.