Photo Courtesy: nenow
Guwahati: Guwahati app-based cab drivers kicked off an indefinite strike on September 1. They want higher fares and a total overhaul of the current payment system. Rising fuel prices and maintenance costs are crushing their take-home pay. The Guwahati Online Cab Drivers’ Society and various driver groups organized the walkout.
The group wants ride-hailing giants like Ola, Uber, and Rapido to hike rates. They demand per-kilometre and per-minute charges align with government-set standards. Specifically, drivers want at least Rs 25 per kilometre for small cars and Rs 30 for larger vehicles. One representative highlighted the disparity, noting that "drivers currently receive only around Rs 8-Rs 12 per kilometre in some cases."
Drivers also want mandatory cancellation fees and waiting charges. Past pleas to the government and the administration yielded no results. The strike will continue until platforms address these financial demands. Thousands of commuters now face transport shortages across the city.
State drivers’ union president Dhrubaraj Axom opposes the move. He believes drivers should avoid service disruptions and instead push the Transport Department for a formal administrative resolution. The standoff highlights deep frustration over aggregator commission rates and the lack of oversight for ride-sharing firms.
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