Ola

Uber

Maharashtra

Andheri

Lower Parel

Azad Maidan

RULES TO REIN IN APP CABS

Cap

15,000 drivers on strike, say they are suffering losses due to companies’ wrong polices.Mumbaikars, who depend on app cabs for their daily commute, will have to brace for inconvenience today, as close to 15,000 drivers ofandhave decided to go on a strike to vent their ire against the companies’ polices.Instead of ferrying passengers, the drivers will assemble under the aegis of Action Committee ofat Ola office inin the morning to hold peaceful protests, while another demonstration by around 10,000 drivers has been planned at the Uber office inin the afternoon.Peaceful agitation will be also held at, where a group of 200 drivers will take part.The drivers, who are unhappy over a number of issues, said that their major grievances were the companies’ decision to slash incentives, the penalties imposed on them in the form of deduction from payment and other faulty policies.A driver, who is a member of Action Committee of Maharashtra, complained that the cab aggregators had come up with rules that defied rationale.“According to the companies’ policies, drivers will be fined if they don’t pick up passengers from their point of location. At times, a passenger’s location is showed on the runway, whereas he or she is outside the airport. But if we pick that passenger from outside the airport, a fine of Rs 250 is slapped on us,” explained Yakoob Mehta of Action Committee of Maharashtra, an umbrella organisation of various committees formed by appbased cab drivers.He further alleged that Ola had inducted a fleet of vehicles purchased by the company and were diverting most trips to these cabs.“Several of us have taken loans to buy vehicles and run cab service on behalf of Ola. But the company is diverting the trips to its own fleet, which means that we are getting less daily assignments and making losses. How can we repay our loans this way?” Yakoob asked.Drivers also said that they were paying more to the companies, which charged 20 per cent of fares on individual trips plus 20 per cent of the total amount earned at the end of the day.The managements of both Ola and Uber were unavailable for comments.on surge pricing. The new fare structure will be decided by a state government-appointed committeeCabs operating with all-India tourist permits will have to convert the same to app-based taxi permits. They will also need a Public Service Vehicle badge. At present, Ola and Uber use commercial driving licencesDrivers on duty should be in uniform prescribed by the companyThe top, front and rear bumper of the cabs have to be painted white, whereas the lower portion will be brushed daffodil yellow.All cabs to have a two-way communication system such as mobile radioDetails like photograph of the driver, licence number, Public Service Vehicle badge number and registration mark to be displayed prominentlyFeedback register must inside the vehicleCab aggregators will have their own offices in the area of operationsA bill should be generated at the end of the journey and handed over to passenger, showing the distance covered and unit rate along with taxPassengers should be able to send their real-time location to five of their important contactsGPS installed in the cabs are expected to remain on during the trip. If it is turned off, it should be reported to the companies’ office and reflected on the driver’s record. If these instances occur often, the driver will have his licence suspendedCab aggregators should work towards increasing the number of women drivers in their companyClean fuel must for any vehicle operating under the new taxi scheme