Maharashtra News: App-Based Cab Drivers Temporarily Suspend Strike In Mumbai, Pune & Nagpur; Final Call On Tuesday

Mumbai: The strike called by app-based cab drivers has been temporarily postponed until Tuesday, offering much-needed relief to commuters across key cities such as Mumbai, Pune, and Nagpur. The strike had severely impacted daily transportation, especially in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), where cab availability dropped sharply and prices surged due to increased demand.

The protest was spearheaded by the Gig Workers Front along with allied unions. The drivers are pressing for a set of key demands, including the implementation of legally authorized fare-by-meter rates, a ban on app-based bike taxis, rationalized commission structures, the creation of a government-backed welfare board, enforcement of the Maharashtra Gig Workers’ Act, and parity with fares charged by traditional black-and-yellow taxis.

In a conversation with The Free Press Journal on Saturday, Dr. Keshav Kshirsagar, the leader of the Gig Workers Front and the face of the app-based cab drivers' protest, confirmed that the strike has been paused following discussions held during a public meeting on Saturday.

"During the Jan Sabha, we deliberated on the current scenario and concluded that the government is deliberately trying to prolong the bandh in hopes that drivers—whose livelihoods depend on daily earnings—will lose morale. To counter this, we decided to resume work until Tuesday, allowing us to earn temporarily while giving the state government the time it requested to review our demands," said Dr. Kshirsagar.

He further stated that the transport department has asked for time until Tuesday to come to a "positive decision" regarding the demands.

"In a show of good faith, we have also decided to charge passengers only according to government-approved meter fares ie around Rs 32 per km, which is exactly what we are demanding. Everyone present at the meeting on Saturday agreed that this was a strategically smart move," he added.

Commuters, who had been struggling to find cabs or were forced to pay inflated fares during the strike, have expressed relief at the temporary suspension.

"It's a good decision. Anyway, strikes don't really solve anything. Efforts should be made to resolve the issue through dialogue," said Rajesh Kamble, a resident of Dadar who frequently uses app-based cabs.

However, uncertainty continues to loom as the protest may resume in full force if the government fails to respond adequately by Tuesday. "If the state transport department fails to fulfill our demands, we will start the protest again," said Kshirsagar.