Members of the Vidarbha App-Based Taxi Union met District Collector Dr. Vipin Itankar and the regional transport officer on Friday to address their grievances. The union submitted a memorandum listing their demands and warned that cab drivers may stop providing air-conditioned (AC) services if their concerns remain unresolved.
Union president Dipak Sane highlighted the financial struggles of cab drivers, attributing them to rising fuel and maintenance costs. “Earlier, when diesel was priced at ₹65-70 per litre, drivers could earn a reasonable fare and maintain their vehicles. Now, with diesel prices exceeding ₹100 per litre and maintenance costs increasing, aggregator companies continue to offer unfair rates,” Sane said.
With summer approaching, he emphasized that passengers would expect AC services. However, under the current fare structure, providing AC is not financially viable, leading to frequent disputes between drivers and passengers. “If our demands are not met, the administration and aggregator companies will be held accountable for the consequences,” he warned.
The union has put forth several demands, including insurance coverage for cab drivers to ensure their families’ security, implementation of government-fixed fares, and shifting the burden of aggregator commissions onto passengers instead of deducting them from drivers’ earnings.
Drivers also raised concerns over fare disparities, stating that they earn ₹7 less per kilometre compared to auto drivers. “Auto fares range between ₹16-17 per km, with aggregator commissions capped at ₹25-30. Meanwhile, cab drivers earn only ₹9-11 per km, and Uber assigns pickup distances of up to 9 km, resulting in financial losses,” they said.
The union has urged authorities to intervene and ensure fair compensation for cab drivers, warning that continued negligence could lead to service disruptions.