Mumbai: Cool Cab doors may open for drivers on strike

MUMBAI: The government would consider registering under the Cool Cab category vehicles from the unregulated Ola and Uber ecosystem if the drivers so desired, said state transport minister Diwakar Raote on Thursday, the fourth day of a strike by app cab drivers to protest against a drastic dip in income.

Cool cabs are upgraded versions of conventional metered taxis and are required to be air-conditioned while charging higher fares.

The strike looked set to continue on Friday. Surge prices were already double the normal rates on Thursday, and the absence of AC app-based cabs at the airport was rued by many. Office-goers complained the wait time was as high as 35 minutes.

Nearly 95% app cabs stayed off the roads. Drivers led by office-bearers of the Maharashtra Rajya Rashtriya Kamgar Sangh met Raote and leader of the opposition in the legislative council Dhananjay Munde.

Raote said the government was keen on regulating app cabs and had introduced the City Taxi Scheme last year, but there was a stay from the court.

On Thursday, the news of a driver's death in Ghatkopar went viral, with union members claiming the man had died of "depression", given the current circumstances.

Officials at Rajwadi hospital said the body was handed over to family in the morning. They said they had "reserved" the cause of death pending histopathology reports.

( Inputs by Malathy Iyer)