Talks not conclusive, cab drivers threaten stir today

As the meeting of app-based cab aggregators, drivers and government officials yielded no results on Wednesday, Ola, TaxiForSure and Uber (OTU) Drivers' and Owners’ Union said all cabs run by app-based aggregators would go off the roads on Thursday.

On Wednesday, a meeting was scheduled between government officials and representatives of Ola and Uber. Both Transport Commissioner M K Aiyappa and representatives of Uber skipped the meeting leaving cab drivers fuming.

Tanveer Pasha, president, OTU Drivers' and Owners’ Union, said, “Company representatives asked us to start from scratch. They did not seem to be aware of our demands. Even after we gave them over a month’s time, nothing has emerged,” he added.

He said service providers have sought an additional 15 days’ time to resolve their issues pertaining to incentives and also implementation of  fee structure fixed by the government.

“By evening on Wednesday, 2,000 cabs were off the roads. By noon on Thursday, we will have all cabs off the roads till our demands are met,” added Pasha. He also blamed government officials for turning a blind eye to their concerns. “Let them instal meters and pay us based on that. Giving promotional offers or discounts to customers is left to them. Let them pay us what we deserve,” he sought.

Meanwhile, the protest call given by autorickshaw and taxi drivers’ unions did not lead to much disruption on Wednesday as most cab services were operational and autorickshaws plied as usual. Members staged a protest in front of the transport commissioner’s office on Wednesday.