Taxi drivers in Ahmedabad took to the streets today, demanding fair treatment and better pay from aggregator companies. The strike, which began this morning, saw a large number of taxi drivers gather outside the offices of these companies at Makarba.

Raju Rabari, a taxi driver with eight years of service, expressed frustration over the current situation. “We are here on strike because aggregator companies are using us and draining our earnings,” Rabari said. “They charge hefty commissions, leaving us with very little in hand.”

One of the key issues highlighted by the striking drivers is the inequality between auto rickshaw fares and taxi fares. Auto drivers receive higher wages despite having similar/less facilities. Moreover, the companies prioritise customer complaints over driver concerns, leading to unnecessary suspensions based on minor issues.

Kanji Rabari, another taxi driver, pointed out that private vehicles are being allowed to operate as taxis, even though the government has not officially approved this practice. “Car fares are lower than auto fares,” he emphasised. “We struggle to manage our finances under this unfair system. As the maintenance of the cars is much higher than that of auto rickshaws.” 

“We are not here to harass anyone,” Kanji Rabari asserted. “We simply want our voices to be  heard, and if necessary, we will escalate our protest to a hunger strike.”

The government’s fixed rate of ₹25 per kilometre for taxis are unmet by the companies, and daily ₹49 login charges further burden the drivers.

The demands of the striking drivers include:

1. Fair pay: Taxi drivers want fair compensation for their services, without excessive commission deductions.

2. Discontinuing  private vehicles: They insist that private two-wheelers and four-wheelers carrying passengers should not be allowed to ply as taxis.

3.Transparent fare system: Companies should maintain consistent fares throughout the day, rather than adjusting them based on time. Customers are willing to pay the fare displayed in the app.

The taxi drivers hope that their collective action will lead to meaningful change and justice for them.

The aggregator companies were approached by Gujarat Samachar Digital, but were not available to comment on the issue.

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