logo
Ola, Uber drivers resume services in Mumbai but union asks riders to pay govt-approved fare

Ola, Uber drivers resume services in Mumbai but union asks riders to pay govt-approved fare

Time of India4 days ago
Mumbai: Drivers of app-based cab services
Ola
and
Uber
, who were on an indefinite strike since July 14, temporarily resumed operations on Saturday after the state govt assured them of a meeting on their long-standing demands.
However, even as the apps went live, confusion loomed large with the drivers' union asking commuters to ignore the app fare and instead pay as per the fare chart notified for Cool Cabs.
The union clarified that the fare shown on the app would not be applicable during this interim period. Passengers are expected to verify the correct fare through onlymeter.in or by scanning a QR code placed inside the cab, and then pay the driver in cash.
The dual fare system has sparked fears of chaos and mistrust among users, especially those unfamiliar with govt-approved tariff charts.
"All fares must be paid in cash, and passengers should follow the notified Cool Cab fare chart, not what's shown on the app," said Keshav Nana Kshirsagar, chairman of the Maharashtra Gig Workers' Union.
You Can Also Check:
Mumbai AQI
|
Weather in Mumbai
|
Bank Holidays in Mumbai
|
Public Holidays in Mumbai
As per the fare chart for Cool Cab, the minimum fare is Rs 48, and for subsequent kilometres, it is Rs 32.05 (rounded off to the nearest rupee).
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around
Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List
Undo
Commuters are already anticipating trouble. "If two different fares are being shown—one on the app and another by the driver—people are going to get confused. Not everyone will take the trouble of verifying it on a separate site," said Priya Deshmukh, a Dadar-Powai commuter.
Others fear arguments may become common. "There's bound to be chaos. Some commuters will insist on paying the app fare while drivers will demand more.
This isn't going to end well," said Anjali Nair, a marketing executive from Malad.
The drivers' agitation was sparked by multiple demands—fare parity with kaali-peelis, withdrawal of a govt complaint helpline, a ban on aggregator autos and bike taxis, and implementation of the aggregator policy. Union members say their earnings offered by aggregator firms are not sustainable.
Though the apps are active again, delays and limited availability continue to affect passengers, with wait times stretching to 10–12 minutes in some areas.
Commuters fear more trouble lies ahead. "People trust the app fares because it's visible and fixed. Now that they're being told to ignore it, confusion is inevitable," said Ashwin Patil, a daily commuter from Ghatkopar.
"The QR code is a good idea, but most people won't know how or when to use it. If this continues beyond Tuesday, it'll become a huge hassle," said Rohan Malhotra, who travels from Churchgate to BKC.
Transport officials said a meeting with aggregator firms and union leaders is likely early next week to resolve the matter. Until then, passengers are advised to carry cash, double-check fares, and brace for inconsistencies.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Trump warns of 'higher tariffs' if countries fail to open markets to US products
Trump warns of 'higher tariffs' if countries fail to open markets to US products

India Today

time27 minutes ago

  • India Today

Trump warns of 'higher tariffs' if countries fail to open markets to US products

US President Donald Trump has once again warned that countries refusing to open their markets to American products will face even higher tariffs. On Wednesday, several nations, including South Korea, rushed to finalise trade agreements with the US before the August 1 negotiation a strongly worded post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump stated, "I WILL ONLY LOWER TARIFFS IF A COUNTRY AGREES TO OPEN ITS MARKET. IF NOT, MUCH HIGHER TARIFFS! Japan's Markets are now OPEN (for first time ever!). USA BUSINESSES WILL BOOM!"advertisementHis post came just a day after he announced a new trade deal with Japan, which includes a 15 percent "reciprocal" tariff on Japanese goods entering the United States. This new rate is 10 percentage points lower than what had previously been announced. According to Trump, Japan will invest USD 550 billion in the US, with 90% of the profits going to the United GREAT POWER OF TARIFFS: TRUMPTrump also defended his use of tariffs as a negotiation tool. In another post, he wrote: "Another great power of Tariffs. Without them, it would be impossible to get countries to OPEN UP!!! ALWAYS, ZERO TARIFFS TO AMERICA!!!" The president has been arguing that tariffs help create leverage in international trade talks, forcing other countries to remove trade barriers and give US businesses a fair shot in foreign markets. According to Trump, the goal is always to eliminate tariffs altogether—but only when other nations do the approach is putting pressure on countries like South Korea, which is working to avoid the harsh consequences of US tariffs. The Korean government is particularly concerned about proposed 25 percent reciprocal tariffs, as well as separate duties on steel, aluminium, and automobile exports. These sectors form the backbone of South Korea's economy, which heavily relies on House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt backed Trump's remarks during a press briefing. She said, "If not, they will continue to face tariffs and pay a steep price to do business in the United States of America, which remains the best market on the face of the planet."- EndsTune InMust Watch

Trump to outline AI priorities amid tech battle with China
Trump to outline AI priorities amid tech battle with China

Time of India

time32 minutes ago

  • Time of India

Trump to outline AI priorities amid tech battle with China

The Trump administration is set to release a new artificial intelligence blueprint on Wednesday that aims to relax American rules governing the industry at the center of a technological arms race between economic rivals the U.S. and China. President Donald Trump will mark the plan's release with a speech outlining the importance of winning an AI race that is increasingly seen as a defining feature of 21st-century geopolitics, with both China and the U.S. investing heavily in the industry to secure economic and military superiority. According to a summary seen by Reuters, the plan calls for the export of U.S. AI technology abroad and a crackdown on state laws deemed too restrictive to let it flourish, a marked departure from former President Joe Biden's "high fence" approach that limited global access to coveted AI chips. Top administration officials such as Secretary of State Marco Rubio and White House National Economic Adviser Kevin Hassett are also expected to join the event titled "Winning the AI Race," organized by White House AI and crypto czar David Sacks and his co-hosts on the "All-In" podcast, according to an event schedule reviewed by Reuters. Trump may incorporate some of the plan's recommendations into executive orders that will be signed ahead of his speech, according to two sources familiar with the plans. Trump directed his administration in January to develop the plan. The event will be hosted by the Hill and Valley Forum, an informal supper club whose deep-pocketed members helped propel Trump's campaign and sketched out a road map for his AI policy long before he was elected. Trump is expected to take additional actions in the upcoming weeks that will help Big Tech secure the vast amounts of electricity it needs to power the energy-guzzling data centers needed for the rapid expansion of AI, Reuters previously reported. U.S. power demand is hitting record highs this year after nearly two decades of stagnation as AI and cloud computing data centers balloon in number and size across the country. The new AI plan will seek to bar federal AI funding from going to states with tough AI rules and ask the Federal Communications Commission to assess whether state laws conflict with its mandate, according to the summary. The Trump administration will also promote open-source and open-weight AI development and "export American AI technologies through full-stack deployment packages" and data center initiatives led by the Commerce Department, according to the summary. Trump is laser-focused on removing barriers to AI expansion, in stark contrast to Biden, who feared U.S. adversaries like China could harness AI chips produced by companies like Nvidia and AMD to supercharge its military and harm allies. Biden, who left office in January, imposed a raft of restrictions on U.S. exports of AI chips to China and other countries that it feared could divert the semiconductors to America's top global rival. Trump rescinded Biden's executive order aimed at promoting competition, protecting consumers and ensuring AI was not used for misinformation. He also rescinded Biden's so-called AI diffusion rule, which capped the amount of American AI computing capacity that some countries were allowed to obtain via U.S. AI chip imports. In May, Trump announced deals with the United Arab Emirates that gave the Gulf country expanded access to advanced artificial intelligence chips from the U.S. after previously facing restrictions over Washington's concerns that China could access the technology.

ED seizes over Rs 127 crore shares in Alchemist Group money laundering scam
ED seizes over Rs 127 crore shares in Alchemist Group money laundering scam

India Today

time35 minutes ago

  • India Today

ED seizes over Rs 127 crore shares in Alchemist Group money laundering scam

In a significant move in the ongoing money laundering probe against the Alchemist Group, the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has seized shares worth Rs 127.33 crore of two hospitals — Alchemist Hospital and Ojas Hospital — located in Panchkula, hospitals are beneficially owned by Karan Deep Singh, son of former Rajya Sabha MP Kanwar Deep Singh. The seizure was carried out under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, as part of the ED's investigation into a large-scale financial scam involving fraudulent investment schemes and misappropriation of public case stems from an FIR initially lodged by Kolkata Police, which was later transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation's (CBI) Anti-Corruption Branch in Lucknow. The companies under scrutiny include Alchemist Township Private Ltd and Alchemist Infra Realty Private Ltd and other group entities, with charges framed under IPC Sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy) and 420 (cheating). According to the ED, the Alchemist Group defrauded thousands of investors by collecting over Rs 1,848 crore through illegal Collective Investment Schemes (CIS), falsely promising high returns and property allotments. The collected funds were subsequently syphoned off and laundered via a network of group companies to conceal their have found that the laundered money was ultimately diverted to acquire shares and develop infrastructure in the two hospitals now seized. Sorus Agritech Private Ltd, a company controlled by Karan Deep Singh, holds 40.94 per cent in Alchemist Hospital and 37.24 per cent in Ojas latest seizure follows a series of actions in the case. Kanwar Deep Singh was arrested by the ED on January 12, 2021. The agency filed a prosecution complaint on March 2, 2021, and a supplementary complaint on July 19, 2024. So far, the ED has seized assets worth Rs 238.42 crore through five separate provisional financial probe agency has alleged that the entire operation was a textbook case of corporate fraud and laundering, wherein public funds were syphoned off under the guise of real estate investments, then disguised as legitimate through hospital infrastructure and equity investments.- EndsMust Watch

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store