Nagpur: In a unique protest, drivers working with cab aggregators on Friday parked their four-wheelers on the district collectorate premises demanding hike in minimum (base) fare to Rs25/km in view of the fuel price hike.
Drivers under the banner of Maharashtra App-Based Transport Workers’ Union, Nagpur, resorted to this step after collector Ravindra Thakare, who is also chairman of regional transport authority, ignored their previous six memorandums.
The agitating drivers claimed that the two top cab aggregators exploit them and deduct money citing various reasons. “Not just the drivers, these companies are also fleecing passengers by charging different fares at different timings in a day for the same distance,” said the agitators.
Speaking to TOI, taxi drivers claimed both the cab aggregators currently charge 30-35% commission per ride. Initially, it used to be zero, then they charged 5 %, which rose to 10 % and now 30-35 %. This has reduced the income and most drivers are facing severe financial crisis and finding it difficult to repay their vehicle loans.
The taxi drivers claimed they are paid only Rs6-7 per km, which is less than what autorickshaw drivers earn in the city. The aggregators must increase the base fare, the drivers said and vowed to continue the protests till their demand is met.
The app-based taxi drivers also urged the collector to direct financial institutions to relax norms for repayment of loan for at least a year. “Due to the pandemic and Covid-19 restrictions, our business has been hit hard as most citizens nowadays prefer private vehicles,” said one of the drivers Pravin Nadelwar.
In the recent past, three app-based taxi drivers have committed suicide in the city and recently another driver ended his life in Bengaluru. Citing these incidents, the drivers stressed that the fare hike must be implemented immediately as several of them are unable to pay the EMIs because of the acute financial crisis caused by the pandemic-induced curbs.
Thakare later spoke to transport commissioner Avinash Dakhane over the long-pending issue. Dakhane clarified that the state government is formulating a policy in this regard.
After assurance from the collector, the drivers left the collectorate. “If our demands are not met soon, we would intensify our agitation,” warned the drivers.