Mumbai: The Ola and Uber drivers’ Maharashtra Rajya Ras-htriya Kamgar Sangh (MRRKS) has planned a silent protest outside the state legislature on November 19.
Mumbai NCP president Sachin Ahir claimed that as of now, Ola and Uber representatives have fulfilled none of their demands but it is understood that some communication has been made to the government by cab aggregator firms. “We urge the government to resolve the cab drivers’ issues in the next two days or we will have no option but to protest,” said Mr Ahir.
Meanwhile, transport minister Diwakar Raote said that the state government has no role to play. It is between the cab aggregators and cab drivers. He, however, said, “The state government has decided to go to the court against the writ petition of Uber where we will file an affidavit that we are ready to provide a city taxi scheme in MMRDA region. It has been stayed on the request of Uber. We are approaching the court with all issues.”
Meanwhile the Uber spokesperson said, “Give-n the impact of rising fuel prices to their net earnings, independent driver partners on the Uber platform have recommended, and Uber has agreed to, the institution of a fuel price linked fare mechanism. This is first being rolled out in Mumbai and we estimate it will increase the gross earnings of driver partners by Rs 1 per kilometre. For driver partners, who drive approximately eight hours a day, this is estimated to translate into a net earnings increase of Rs 2,000-2,200 per month.”
