Ride-hailing services are set to be disrupted from Saturday in Chennai as a section of auto and cab drivers plan to indefinitely boycott aggregators like Ola and Uber. The strike is to protest against 25%-40% commissions that eat into their earnings, TOI reported.
However, drivers said that they would continue operating on apps like Namma Yatri that charge a fixed daily subscription fee instead of commissions.
Meanwhile, auto drivers unaffiliated with any app-based service have announced their own fare structure of Rs 50 as base fare, followed by 18/km.
“We have been demanding a fare revision for 12 years, as directed by Madras high court, but state govt is yet to act. The transport minister has repeatedly said the proposal is awaiting cabinet approval,” Zahir Hussain A, coordinator of the Confederation of Drivers’ Unions, Chennai, told TOI.
Aggregator rules, meant to regulate peak-hour surcharges and commission percentages, have been stalled for years. “With commissions as high as 40%, we are sometimes forced to charge above the app-estimated fares, leading to conflicts with passengers. This indefinite strike and our new fare system aim to resolve these issues,” he added at a press conference on Wednesday.
Asked about possible government action for not following the official fare structure, the drivers said they were prepared to face consequences.
“We have no choice. We need to sustain our livelihoods, pay rent, clear loans, and support our children’s education. We are not asking for crores from the govt, just a simple order announcing revised fares,” Hussain said.
The announcement has drawn mixed reactions.
D Amit, a Mumbai native working in Taramani pointed out to how auto drivers in Chennai never adhered to the fares fixed in 2013, even before ride-hailing apps gained popularity. “They didn’t even have fare meters and often overcharged passengers, especially newcomers to the city,” he said.
