Ola, Uber, Rapido drivers announce ‘All-India Shutdown’, plan your travel accordingly

In a major escalation of protests, the Telangana App-Based Drivers Forum (TADF) has announced an “All-India Breakdown” by app-based taxi drivers on February 7. Drivers affiliated with platforms such as Ola, Uber, and Rapido say the action is aimed at highlighting mounting financial stress and increasingly uncertain working conditions.

According to the forum, aggregator companies continue to fix fares without adequate transparency despite the notification of the Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines, 2025. The drivers’ body argues that the absence of clearly enforced rules has resulted in shrinking incomes, rising debt, and an unsustainable livelihood model for thousands of workers.

TADF has also pointed out that passengers are being affected through frequent surge pricing and inconsistent fare structures, which it attributes to weak regulatory monitoring and a lack of accountability for aggregator platforms.

Among its key demands, the union has criticised both the Centre and state governments for failing to notify minimum base fares, a gap that it says allows companies to increase commission charges while reducing drivers’ earnings. Drivers say escalating fuel costs, vehicle maintenance, insurance, and operational risks are being entirely borne by them.

The forum has called for an immediate declaration of minimum base fares and a ban on the use of private, non-commercial vehicles for app-based transport services.

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The proposed strike follows similar protests staged on December 25 and December 31 last year, when drivers had raised alarms over deteriorating pay structures and working conditions during peak demand periods.