Speak up Mumbai: Should govt step into Ola, Uber mess? City ponders

Chances of even a handful of Ola, Uber cabs plying on city roads have gotten bleaker. Cab drivers union has threatened that they will permanently go offline from the cab aggregator apps if the state government does not address their demands. A number of cab drivers who began their second protest early on Sunday morning have now decided to agitate in front of the Vidhan Bhavan.

"The sentiments of drivers are quite strong against the aggregator companies. If the state government and companies do not agree to the demands and if they don't come out with a solution then there are chances that the drivers might go off line permanently," said Mahesh Jadhav, Marathi Kamgaar Sena.

The strike — led by the Maharashtra Rajya Rashtriya Kamgar Sangh (MRRKS) — is the second in less than a month. On November 19, a huge number of drivers is expected to start a walk from Bharat Mata in Currey Road till Vidhan Bhavan. The union claims that there will be 65,000 drivers across Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and Thane. The MRRKS has already stated that participation is not mandatory and drivers can take their vehicles out for passengers. During the strike on Sunday, surge pricing of 2-3 times was observed.

In the earlier strike between October 22 to November 2, the state government intervened at the last moment and asked Ola, Uber to resolve the issues with the union. Until there is law to keep tab on the aggregators, the government says it cannot do much. For the time being, it is the Mumbaikars getting affected. Drop in cab services mean more rush in local trains, autos, taxis and buses. DNA speaks to Mumbaikars whether the government should intervene to clean the mess.

SPEAK UP

I think the state government has already intervened to end the distressing situation but it doesn’t seem to be helping. Considering it being a private entity, I don’t think the government can do much. However, I think that the government should instead work on making kaali-peeli taxi’s the first choice of masses than intervening in issues of Uber or say Ola.
— Maitrayee Iyer, Navi Mumbai 

No, the state should not intervene in the protest. It’s a private service after all, and Ola and Uber are private-profit making companies. Therefore, they have the complete freedom to decide on the profit margin/share of their drivers. The drivers’ issues may be genuine. But, why should the state intervene with the problems of private service providers? 
— Shriniwas Balkrushnan, Kandivali

The government should intervene. Because what has happened is that the taxi owners hardly allow us to go for short distance. For this, we have to rely on Ola and Uber. Government should intervene only too keep the interest of common man. While we have access to other modes of transport, when we have to rely on taxis, it becomes a problem. In such case Ola and Uber is the solution for us and commuting is better. Since common man’s interest are at stake, the government should intervene for that.
—Jagdish Kulur, Fort
 
I think yes. The government should try to bring an end to this as it has been a hot issue and has been causing inconvenience to many people including me. All transport unions like auto-rickshaw and BEST buses have demands and so the private cab unions have it. If the government won’t listen to them then who will? The frequent strikes have disrupted the regular commutation of ours and if this issue is resolved once and for all then it won’t cause trouble in future.
—Radhika Shukla, Malad
 
Strike by private cab firms have caused disruptions in travelling and to avoid it, the government and concerned authorities should take concrete steps. Ultimately, it’s about the consumers and some efforts should be taken in this direction so that this is sorted before it goes for a toss. I think negotiations on face value could be a key to restore normalcy.
—Nikin Panchal, Dahisar

Yes the government should intervene, review and freeze guidelines on the constantly changing fare structure. Ideally, the government should hear out the cab aggregators’ issues. But at the same time, upper limits in the fare structure (during the peak-hour demand etc) should be imposed, not allowing them to surge the prices as per their wishes.
—Kishor Shetye, Wadala
 
The government’s interference is irrelevant at this point. In fact, they should even stop interfering in the regular kaali-peeli taxi. If the government take a less stringent approach when it comes to providing authorisation for private taxi drivers then a greater number of people will be able to drive on their own. So even though there are discrepancies in the way these private companies pay the drivers, it’s still the easier way to earn their living as getting a regular taxi permit is even more cumbersome.
—Savani Vaze, Girgaum
 
I don’t think government should intervene. Ola and Uber are privately-run companies and before joining these two companies the drivers must have understood their terms and conditions and only then they would have signed up with them. Today now when they are feeling the pinch then the union instead of approaching government of seeking governmental intervention should better approach courts and take a legal help and find a way out for their grievance.
—Mohan Pandey, Bhandup

EXPERT SPEAK

It is important that the state government intervenes. Despite the fact that Uber and Ola do not fall under government’s purview; at least for the time being, it is affecting lakhs of people. There are thousands of drivers and lakhs of Mumbaikars who suffer due to the strike called by the drivers of these aggregators, which has become a vital mode of transportation. So it becomes important for the government to ensure that the issues are resolved.
— Ashok Datar, Chairman, MESN and resident of Mahim

There is a need for the state government to take the strike called by the drivers of mobile aggregators seriously. They should intervene and resolve this matter as common public is getting affected. The union and drivers are emotionally blackmailing and taking full use of the approaching elections. They simply want to get their demands fulfilled and are not thinking of people. The government too is not making any efforts to resolve this matter once in for all.
— Mansoor Darvesh, Secretary, Passenger and Traffic Relief Association and resident of Jogeshwari