Commuters in Mumbai will continue to face trouble as Ola-Uber strike entered its second week on Monday leaving office-goers hassled during morning and evening peak hours. Security has been beefed up in-front of Andheri’s Ola office in order to prevent any untoward incident.

Uber drivers are making a plan to meet the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis in the later of the day demanding a minimum base fare in the range of Rs 100-150 depending on the type of car and a per-km fare of Rs 18 to Rs 23.

Basic demands-

• Per Km rate should be increased to at least Rs 23.
• Minimum base fare should be in the range of Rs 100-150 depending on the type of car.
• Waiting charges must be increased.
• Pick-up distance must be minimised.
• Cancellation penalty of drivers should be waived off.
• Action must be taken against fraud customers who fool Ola/Uber drivers.
• Compensation must be given to the family of drivers died in accident.
• Insurance cover must be provided to all the drivers.
• Ola/Uber companies must stand by their promises.

The Union members have claimed that its drivers will march from the Ola office in Andheri to Uber’s office in Kurla.

The Maharashtra Rajya Rashtriya Kamgar Sangh, which called the Ola-Uber strike owing to falling driver incomes, said that the strike will continue on Monday and until ‘demands are met’. It said 90% of the cabs were off the roads.

“We will take out a morcha on Monday from Andheri in front of Ola’s office,” Sunil Borkar, secretary of the association told The Economic Time. The association is also calling for a meeting with the chief minister.

Counting driver’s concern he said, “Several drivers have committed suicide because their income is falling and they are not able to repay loans. We will not end the strike until the demands are met.”

Meanwhile, people gathered at Andheri’s Ola office demanded these Ola-Uber companies to be closed. People can be seen holding placards demanding these online transportation network companies should be shut.

Last week, Uber had approached the Bombay High Court citing violence against its drivers from those holding the strike. It had also asked to direct authorities to ensure their safety.

“Mumbai is among the top five markets for both cab companies,” Jaspal Singh, founder of Valoriser Consultants, a transportation consulting firm told The Economic Times. “Taxi unions are very strong in Mumbai, which is one of the reasons for this long strike,” he said.

According to reports, Mumbai has around 45,000 to 50,000 app-based taxis.

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