MUMBAI: An association of taxis and auto drivers and owners staged a protest at Azad Maidan in South Mumbai today seeking an inquiry and action against cab aggregators such as Uber and Ola over their pricing strategy to attract customers.
Many taxi-rickshaw owners and drivers under the aegis of newly-formed “Jai Bhagwan Taxi Rickshaw Sanghatana” protested over the transport charge of Rs. 6 per km being offered by the aggregators to ferry commuters.
“We are forced to gather here to raise our voice against the cab aggregators Ola and Uber. We want to know how they offer service at just Rs. 6 per km when the fixed rate is Rs. 8 per km for taxis,” said the Sanghatna president Bala Sanap.
Alleging that the government was in collusion with the taxi hailing service providers, he said, “We feel that there is conspiracy to wipe out our taxis and rickshaws from the roads. But we will not let this happen whatever it may take”.
He threatened to take taxis off roads from July 26 if government failed to order an inquiry against the aggregators.
“We have written a letter to Chief Minister and have urged him that the Uber and Ola services should be treated as taxis,” Mr Sanap added.
One of the largest unions in city, the Mumbai Taximen’s Union, however, did not participate in the protest.
PTI