An indefinite strike by Ola, Uber and Rapido drivers caused widespread chaos and inconvenience to hundreds of passengers at Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport on Tuesday. In a move likely to disrupt passenger travel, app-based taxi drivers in Nagpur got success on day-one of their strike as passengers struggled to get taxi or cab after landing at Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport on Tuesday. Many passengers walked out of the airport with their luggage as no taxi was available at arrival gate of the airport. Whereas, majority of passengers were compelled to hire autorickshaw near Hotel Pride to reach their destination.

 

Whereas, autorickshaws were not allowed inside the airport premises causing more discomfort to air passengers on Tuesday. Passengers, who had flights from Nagpur airport, struggled a lot to book cab on mobile apps and as a result, they were also compelled to book autorickshaws to reach the airport. App-based taxi drivers called an indefinite “no pickup, no drop” strike at the airport that started from Tuesday. The protest is against what drivers call “systematic exploitation” by cab aggregators such as Ola, Uber, and Rapido. The agitation is led by the Taxi Vehicle Drivers and Owners Joint Action Committee, Nagpur, and will continue until their demands are met, raising concerns of major inconvenience for air travellers.

 

As part of the protest, drivers completely stopped pickup and drop services at the airport. However, the protest will remain peaceful and within the law, with vehicles stationed without blocking traffic. Key demands include a ban on bike taxi services like Rapido, implementation of RTA-approved fare structures across platforms without discounts or manipulation, insurance protection for drivers and compensation for families in case of accidents, a ban on loss-making long-distance pickups, introduction of XL category vehicles, and prepaid taxi booths at railway stations and the airport under Transport Department control. The drivers have also proposed a Government-backed alternative — the ‘Orange City Taxi Service’ under the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) — as a long-term solution.