Commuters in Pune might find it difficult to book Ola and Uber rides next week as the Indian Gig Workers Front (IGWF) has called for a boycott of these cab aggregators from December 11 to 15. The protest is centered around the demand for better fare rates and the legality of the aggregators operating without proper licenses.
President of IGWF, Keshav Kshirsagar, revealed that the main demonstration will be held outside AeroMall near Pune airport on December 11. During the boycott period, drivers associated with these platforms will not be accepting rides. However, passengers have the option to directly negotiate with drivers for trips, and fares will be charged at the government-prescribed rate of Rs 24 per kilometer.
Kshirsagar encouraged drivers in both Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad to participate in the protest, highlighting the financial challenges faced by cab operators. He also mentioned that they have informed the airport director, AeroMall management, and the airport police station about the planned demonstration.
One local driver expressed his frustration with the current operational model, stating that the aggregators take a large portion of the earnings, leaving drivers with minimal income to sustain themselves. The increasing number of cabs in the city has intensified competition, further impacting their earnings.
The issue of licensing has also been a point of contention, with the Regional Transport Authority (RTA) rejecting licensing requests from Ola and Uber in March. The platforms were operating on provisional licenses that had expired, yet they continued their operations despite warnings of enforcement.
Pune Regional Transport Officer, Archana Gaikwad, provided an update on the licensing status, mentioning that a hearing regarding their license applications is scheduled for December 20. The outcome of this hearing will likely have an impact on the future operations of Ola and Uber in Pune and surrounding areas.
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