Nationwide Taxi Strike: Ola, Uber, Rapido Services Paralyzed; Know Drivers' Key Demands - Punjabi News

Published on: 07 Feb 2026 at 10:10 AM

Nationwide Taxi Strike: Ola, Uber, Rapido Services Paralyzed; Know Drivers’ Key Demands

Published by: Gill Bikram

Nationwide Taxi Strike: Ola, Uber, Rapido Services Paralyzed; Know Drivers’ Key Demands

New Delhi, February 7, 2026
Passengers across India face major disruptions today as app-based taxi services like Ola, Uber, and Rapido grind to a halt. Various taxi unions announced a one-day nationwide strike protesting falling earnings and growing company exploitation.

Strike Causes & Main Demands

Drivers’ demands focus on economic security and fair fare systems:

Minimum Base Fare: Unions claim state governments haven’t implemented 2025 Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines, allowing companies to arbitrarily slash fares and hit driver incomes.
Ban Illegal Bike Taxis: Demand immediate shutdown of rule-breaking bike taxi services stealing their livelihood.
Panic Button Burden: ₹12,000+ extra cost for mandatory panic buttons in states like Maharashtra seen as government-company collusion.
Social Security: Insurance, pension, fixed working hours for drivers.

Unions’ Stance

Telangana Gig & Platform Workers Union (TGPWU) President Shaik Salahuddin blamed government inaction, saying private companies exploit drivers without regulation. “Until concrete policy is made, this struggle continues,” he stated.

Impact on Passengers

Major cities (Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Bengaluru) see acute cab/auto shortages. Apps show excessive ‘waiting times,’ and available rides carry heavy surge pricing.