Maharashtra govt may intervene to help app-based cabbies

Shiv Kumar
Tribune News Service
Mumbai, October 12

The Maharashtra Government may intervene to help the owner-drivers of app-based cabs like Ola and Uber who face financial problems due to low fares and rising fuel costs.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Maharashtra Transport Minister Diwakar Raote have called for a meeting with cabbies banded under the banner of ‘Sangharsh Taxi Chalak Malak Sanghatana’ to discuss their problems.

“Ola and Uber have fixed the base fares at Rs 6 per kilometre even as auto-rickshaws and the black-and-yellow cabs charge Rs 18 and Rs 22 respectively,” a spokesman of the ‘Sanghatana’ said.

The base fares are valid for two km and increase progressively.

According to the taxi union there are around one lakh app-based cabs in Maharashtra.

Raju Patil, an office-bearer of the ‘Sanghatana’, alleged that Ola and Uber charge a commission of around 30 per cent from the drivers leaving them little after paying for fuel.

“Taxi owners who borrowed money to buy their vehicles are finding it difficult to pay off their bank loans. Some of them have even attempted suicide,” Patil said.

Earlier this week, owners of app-based cabs went on a strike in Pune after one of them attempted suicide after his cab was seized by lenders.

Meanwhile, rival taxi unions are demanding that base fares of app-based cabs be raised to Rs 18 and Rs 23 depending on the size of the vehicle.

There is also a demand to regulate the commission charged by Uber and Ola.