Ola, Uber cab drivers protest; allege exploitation

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, March 21

Cab drivers associated with Ola and Uber under the banner of Local Cab Operators’ Association today staged a protest at Rani Jhansi Road against the alleged exploitation of cab drivers by the companies.

Around 200 cab drivers took part in the protest march starting from Rani Jhansi Road to Deputy Commissioner’s Office, following which cab drivers handed over a memorandum to DC Pradeep Agrawal.

The protesting cab drivers alleged that both cab companies have been economically exploiting the drivers. “The companies have been charging more than 40 per cent commission and other expenses from cab drivers. Besides this, the drivers who have hired cabs from the company, have to pay Rs700 per day to the company. Cab drivers are facing a tough time due to this and it is hard to survive for them in such circumstances,” said Aadarsh Sharma, a cab driver.

The cab drivers claimed that they had associated with companies as they were assured a monthly income of more than Rs80,000. “But the reality is that we are not even able to meet our daily expenses,” another cab driver said.

According to cab drivers, around 5,000 drivers are associated with both companies. They said they tried to meet the officials of the companies many times, but bouncers hired by the companies do not allow them to meet the company officials. The cab drivers said their protest would continue for indefinite time till their demands are not met.

The Deputy Commissioner assured the cab drivers to take up their demands with the company officials.