Ola, Uber strike in DelhiNCR: Rough ride today for commuters: 10 updates
Attention, Delhiites! If you use an Ola or Uber cab for your daily travel to office or elsewhere in Delhi-NCR, you might have to look at alternative modes of transport today. Drivers of the two leading app-based cab aggregators are planning a complete shutdown in the city on Friday to press for their demands, according to a media report. The announcement of an indefinite nationwide strike in the key cities of Mumbai, New Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Pune had been made by the Ola and Uber drivers on March 19. However, a significant impact had so far been seen only in Mumbai; the other metros faced minimal impact. Here are the top 10 developments so far in the Ola-Uber strike and stir: 1. Uber, Ola plan a complete shutdown in Delhi-NCR today: Drivers, with the support of the Sarvodaya Drivers Association, are likely to protest against their low earnings. They are currently paid Rs 25,000 to Rs 30,000 a month, according to media reports.
2.Fifth day of strike: The strike, which was first announced on March 19 might finally hit Delhi-NCR commuters today as Ola and Uber drivers plan a complete shutdown. Until yesterday, the impact in the city had been minimal, with a few riders in Noida and Ghaziabad facing a difficulty in finding cabs to Delhi. Residents in Gurgaon and Delhi faced a delay in getting cabs. 3. Ola, Uber deny shutdown claims: Both Ola and Uber on Thursday dismissed claims of a complete shutdown in Delhi-NCR, with an Ola spokesperson saying. “It’s business as usual for us in Delhi-NCR.” A spokesperson for Uber had said: “There is no disruption to the service in Delhi-NCR, at this point. We are committed to serving the city, ensuring driver-partners can continue to access a stable income while giving riders a convenient, reliable option to get around Delhi-NCR,” according to the English daily. 4. Ola strike in Mumbai called off: Claiming "victory" for the "owner-operators" of Ola cabs in Mumbai and other places, the transport wing of the Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena that was spearheading the stir, on Thursday said the Ola management, during their talks with the police and the wing's representatives had given a written commitment on meeting the various demands. 5. Uber strike continues in Mumbai: Meanwhile, a similar strike by drivers of Uber continues.Almost 90 to 95 per cent of Ola and Uber drivers in Mumbai participated in the strike on the third day, Naik had said. It is estimated that over 45,000 app-based cabs operate in the financial capital alone. 6. 15 arrested in Mumbai: The Mumbai Police on Tuesday arrested 12 people, including Sanjay Naik, the president of the transport wing of the Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), besides some drivers of either Ola or Uber, an executive of a ride-hailing company toldBusiness Standard. 7. Drivers claim Ola, Uber cheated them: Ola and Uber drivers said that while both the firms promised them an average monthly income between Rs 100,000 to Rs 150,000, the same was not the case. However, they initially believed them, and ended up buying cars on loans. Now that they are being underpaid, they have decided to go on a strike, according to media reports. An average cost of a car varies between Rs 500,000 to 700,000. 8. Ola giving preference to cars owned by them: Allegations have also been made that Ola is giving preferences to its own cars rather than the ones owned by drivers. Highlighting one such incident, a driver said that even if a car owned by them is closer to a rider, the company will book for the rider the car that is owned by the company, according to media reports. 9. Drop in per-km fare giving nightmares: Where the per-kilometre fare once to hover around Rs 10, the same has dropped to Rs 6 now due to the stiff competition between Ola and Uber. Moreover, Ola Share offers share pass varying on the distance one intends
to travel. 10. Ola-Uber strike in Delhi-NCR last year: Earlier, on March 2017, Ola and Uber drivers went on a strike in Delhi-NCR region, demanding a hike in per-km fare. Sarvodaya Drivers’ Association had demanded that fares be increased from the existing Rs 6 per km to around Rs 20 per km.