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Indian Express
20-07-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
App-based taxi drivers suspend strike in Mumbai and Pune; fare regulation still pending
Drivers of app-based taxis in Maharashtra temporarily stopped their four-day-old strike on Friday, citing financial pressure and the need to take care of their families. But they still insist on their demand to implement government-notified fare rates across all aggregator platforms. Drivers associated with platforms such as Ola and Uber have been getting between Rs 8 and Rs 12 per km, which they argue is unsustainable. They demanded that the fares set by the Regional Transport Authority (RTO) be made mandatory for all aggregator services run through mobile apps. The existing RTO-notified fare for taxis is Rs 32 per km for cabs. The Maharashtra Kamgar Sabha, the union that organised the protest, said that drivers will charge this rate of Rs 32 per km, but not the app-based fare. They will look at fare calculations given on a website named Only Meter. 'Drivers will report the app-displayed distance on the Only Meter site and charge passengers as per the fare indicated there, rather than applying the app-based fare estimate,' the union said in a statement. The union said that this system was already in use in Pune and Mumbai. Although there might be an initial confusion for people travelling by bus, the union said, it will ultimately help passengers and drivers alike in the long term. Passengers are also reportedly in favour of the new system, the union added. The protest, which started with a sit-in at Azad Maidan, got a mixed response. But it picked up pace after the death of a driver from Nalasopara in an apparent suicide, reportedly under financial stress as he was unable to pay his car loan EMIs. The incident attracted more drivers to the protest site in a sign of solidarity. To resolve the issues, the union and RTO officials held a meeting on Friday, where drivers once again pleaded for the introduction of fixed fares. The RTO, however, has requested time until July 22 to respond to the demands. Dr Keshav Kshirsagar, president of the Maharashtra Kamgar Sabha, said the strike has not been withdrawn. 'The online cab and rickshaw strike in Mumbai, Nagpur, and Pune cities has been temporarily suspended. The government has been given time till Tuesday, and if the demands are not accepted, the strike will resume from Wednesday. Now the fare will be charged at the government rate. Passengers and drivers can agree on the fare at the government meter rate by visiting the website The Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers' (IFAT) has also instructed the drivers to return to work. 'The strike is still going on. We have just instructed our drivers to accept rides on the applications and politely inform the rider that government meter-based rates will be applicable. The ride will be cancelled (on the app) and the customer will be provided good service,' said Prashant Sawardekar, president of the IFAT. 'There have been unfortunate cases of suicides of drivers and some elements have blocked cabs plying on roads and broken them down. This is affecting the livelihood of people and we thought we should not do it,' he added. Sawardekar further said the leaders had met BJP state chief Ravindra Chavan to resolve the issues. 'If our demands are not met, we will demand a meeting with the chief minister next,' he said.
Time of India
19-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
‘On-time' trend hides hazards: Delivery agents struggle to get insurance claims for accidents on the job
1 2 Pune: The rising trend of quick commerce and food order apps assuring time-bound deliveries has led to many agents facing riding accidents and injuries in recent times. Delivery agents also highlighted that such mishaps are followed by several challenges in collecting insurance claims — they often end up with little to no compensation in the absence of formalised or regulated documentation and support across the industry. Keshav Kshirsagar, president of the Indian Gig Workers Front, told TOI, "There are hardly any cases where delivery executives are able to get insurance claims fulfilled. There is no real protection for gig workers. Companies just show insurance documentation as there is a govt requirement for it. Many executives have faced challenges making claims." You Can Also Check: Pune AQI | Weather in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune There is some confusion prevalent among gig workers as to what qualifies for claims under company insurance policies. "I was told that health and medical-related claims are covered by the company, but any accident-related claims are not covered as we ride our own personal two-wheelers for work," said Raju Atole, a quick commerce delivery agent. Mukesh Singh, a food delivery agent, said, "I met with an accident a few months ago while on the job and my bike got damaged. However, I was unable to make an insurance claim as some paperwork was insufficient from both my side and the company's side. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo I had to spend my own money to get it repaired." Pratyush Ranjan, executive vice president of employee benefits at Howden Insurance, said that the sharp rise in the total number of gig workers has led to an increase in of claims over the past year. For gig workers in e-commerce and quick-commerce sectors, this increase in claims is complemented by rising accident risks due to heavier traffic, poor road conditions, worsening weather, and growing competition among employers and platforms. "The claims process is often challenging for workers due to low literacy levels and incomplete or missing paperwork. In some cases, platforms/companies have erased workers' employment histories, making it impossible for them to file claims. Many partners turn to unions for help in accessing insurance benefits. However, in a sector where workers are not organised collectively, making claims becomes even more difficult," he said. Now, to provide additional support to riders, some insurance providers have also started offering specialised products that include coverage for risks associated with using two-wheelers for goods or food delivery, such as accident benefits specifically for fractures suffered during accidents at work. Varsha Gujarathi, chief customer officer at Universal Sompo General Insurance, told TOI, "In India, two-wheelers currently do not have a designated registration category for goods carriage. As a result, many delivery partners working with platforms in food and quick delivery are using privately registered vehicles for commercial delivery purposes. Overall, the sector is witnessing a gradual shift towards more formalised insurance products and regulatory frameworks, aiming to balance the needs of delivery partners, platforms, and public safety. " For the benefit of delivery executives, insurers like Bajaj Allianz have started offering food delivery platforms in India a broader range of insurance covers for their delivery agents. "Two increasingly popular benefits are recovery relief and hospital daily allowance. Recovery relief offers a lump-sum payout to help agents manage expenses during extended recovery periods, while hospital daily allowance provides a fixed amount for each day of hospitalisation to cover incidental costs," said Bhaskar Nerurkar, head of the health administration team at Bajaj Allianz General Insurance. Elsewhere, some delivery companies have implemented internal policies to prioritise safety over speed and avoid penalising riders for late deliveries, which may help mitigate risky behaviour. However, when TOI reached out to some food delivery and quick commerce platforms, they were unavailable for comment at the time of going to print.
Time of India
19-07-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Gig workers postpone auto, cab strike after commuters' harrowing experience
Pune: The Indian Gig Workers' Front on Saturday evening suspended the ongoing strike of cabs and autorickshaws operating on applications till Tuesday, after leaving many commuters, including those arriving at the airport on Saturday morning, hassled. Keshav Kshirsagar, the president of the front, said, "We have a meeting on Tuesday with senior officials of the state transport department. If its decisions don't meet our expectations, the strike will resume." Several commuters had a harrowing experience on roads on Friday and in the early hours of Saturday. Cabs and autos were hard to come by. The fortunate ones getting vehicles had to fork out double the average fare. Worse, a few got a taste of unruly drivers' misbehaviour. You Can Also Check: Pune AQI | Weather in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune Pratik Chhoriyaan, an IT professional, landed in Pune in the early hours of Saturday. "People were stranded at Aeromall's first and second floor outside the Pune airport because of the strike. Some auto and cab drivers on duty demanded over Rs1,000 for an 8km distance." Aviral Bhatnagar, an investor, wrote on X, "Pune's having Ola/Uber/Rapido cab drivers' strike to raise prices. What earlier cost Rs350 now costs Rs700. One asked me to pay Rs1,000 instead of Rs300. In the quest for maximising profits, cab drivers are killing the golden goose of cab aggregators." Dinesh Tiwari, a resident of Wanowrie, struggled to find a cab to go to his office. "My car went for servicing two days ago, and it has been a big challenge finding a cab or an auto. I have been paying Rs300-400 to travel a short distance of 7km." Anvesh Kulkarni, a resident of Hadapsar, tried to book a cab multiple times on Saturday morning but failed. "I had to take my family to Koregaon Park for a function. We tried booking autorickshaws and cabs for an hour, but failed. Finally, I called up an autorickshaw driver known to us. He dropped us for Rs450," he said. Dilip Sonawane, a cab driver on these aggregators since 2015, said, "We are demanding the updated fares the RTO has allowed us to charge. Since the same fares are not showing up on the app, customers do not want to pay the revised amount. Most customers say they will pay the new rates if these reflect on the app. Ola, Uber and Rapido are refusing to update the rates. This is causing major confusion among commuters." Prakash Rajguru, the president of LV Antaral Autorickshaw Sanghatana, who operates prepaid autorickshaws from the Pune airport, said their business revived in the past two days after months of stalemate. "The strike left flyers with no option but to come to us. We have done brisk business. Each of us made multiple trips. We charged fares as per the RTA-approved pre-paid rates. Flyers with more luggage hired two or even three autorickshaws because they didn't have a choice," Rajguru said. Another prepaid auto driver talked about an incident in the early morning hours. "A passenger negotiating with an auto driver was stunned because he was asked for a fare of Rs2,000 for going to Hinjewadi-phase-1. When I saw him moving towards the AeroMall, I requested him to book a ride with us from the counter. He did that. We gave him a receipt of Rs525, and a colleague of mine took him to his destination," he said.
Time of India
18-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Drivers of app cabs on stir to force others to not ply Sat
Mumbai: Ola and Uber drivers protesting at Azad Maidan plan to stop all app-based cabs in the MMR on Saturday. If this happens, it could impact airline and train passengers, as well as office-goers. This has not gone down well with the cab drivers, who have decided to stop other cabs that are plying on the road. A group of Ola and Uber drivers protesting at Azad Maidan, representing areas across the MMR, including Nalasopara, Kalyan, Panvel, and others, have issued a warning that they will stop all Ola and Uber cabs from Saturday morning. Such an action is expected to make it difficult for citizens to get aggregator cabs, particularly outside airports and railway stations during the weekend. The driver partners are demanding a minimum fare of Rs 32 per km, stating that they currently earn as low as Rs 8 to Rs 10 per km via the app. A delegation from the drivers met the additional transport commissioner who informed them that a follow-up meeting would be held on Tuesday. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai On Friday, services were not majorly hit although there was a shortage in suburbs and far-flung areas of MMR. Union leader Keshav Kshirsagar, while addressing the crowd at Azad Maidan on Friday, said: "I am told that Ola and Uber do not have permission to operate and, therefore, it would not be considered illegal to cease operations. So you can go in a group of four and request other drivers to stop on Saturday. But please do not use violence. .." The agitation intensified following the suicide by a cab driver in Nalasopara this week. The driver's income had decreased, making it difficult for him to support himself. —Somit Sen
Time of India
03-07-2025
- Time of India
After rape by ‘delivery agent', housing societies in Pune reassess safety measures
Pune: Wednesday's sexual assault on a woman in Kondhwa by a man posing as a delivery agent has prompted society representatives in the city to discuss security tightening measures, including sending self-security awareness messages to residents. The man, posing as a courier delivery agent, entered the 22-year-old data scientist's 11th floor rented flat in a residential society in Kondhwa on Wednesday evening, sprayed some chemical on her face and allegedly raped her. Though police are verifying the delivery agents who had visited the society on Wednesday, Gig Workers Association president Keshav Kshirsagar said residents should close the doors "whenever a delivery person asks for anything and they need to go inside". He said the state govt must adopt the gig workers' Act to ensure that all delivery agents are registered and verified. Stella Samuel, secretary of Panchavati Utkarsh Seva Sanstha that covers about 22 societies in the Panchavati area, said one way to ensure security was complete CCTV camera coverage on society premises and in corridors and elevators. "This also acts as a deterrent to crime. However, a practical problem faced by society management is managing everything with limited funds," Samuel said, adding that she would raise the issue of creating awareness about security precautions at their next meeting. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trending in in 2025: Local network access control [Click Here] Esseps Learn More Undo You Can Also Check: Pune AQI | Weather in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune The Security Guards Association, however, said housing societies should be willing "to pay more to ensure better guards". Sachin More, president of the Security Guards' Association in Pune (formerly Police Private Security Partnership Programme, said: "In industrial areas, we provide trained security guards because industries are willing to pay. The Private Security Agencies Regulation Act (PSARA), 2005, applies to all security guards in Maharashtra. We ensure that the personnel we provide have undergone complete police verification, not just from their current place of residence but also from the villages they come from." He said, "However, societies look for watchmen, not trained security guards. They expect someone to work 12-hour shifts for Rs 10,000 a month, with no leave. Very few people are willing to work for that kind of remuneration." While CCTV cameras and watchmen are the basic norm in most housing societies, many now also use gate-entry apps to manage visitors' access. Rajendra Chutar, president of Baner Pashan Link Road Welfare Trust, said: "This plays an important role in providing security, especially for senior citizens. While we know what parcel is expected and can easily block unauthorised entry, the problem arises when children order something and we are not aware. Many times, senior citizens return parcels thinking they are fake, only to be told otherwise by the children who have ordered it. It is important for family members to keep each other informed such orders."
