3 weeks ago
Bhopal Taxi Drivers Announce Statewide Protest Over Fare Policies
Taxi drivers in a city called Bhopal are very upset.
They drive cars for app companies like Ola, Uber and Rapido.
The drivers believe these companies set unfair prices for rides.
They also think the state government has not made clear rules for taxi fares.
So the drivers decided to hold a protest.
On August 15, they will march from one place to another in the city.
Then from August 18 to 20, they will hold an even bigger protest with drivers from all over the state.
They even plan to stand outside the Chief Minister's house to show how unhappy they are.
The drivers want the government to decide fixed prices for every taxi ride.
They hope this will make things fair and help them earn a better living.
Taxi unions in Bhopal announced a statewide protest from August 18-20 and a rally on August 15 over aggregator fare policies.
The unions plan to gherao the Chief Minister's residence in Bhopal, with the date of an indefinite protest not yet fixed.
Drivers are demanding a government-approved fare structure: a ₹50-60 base fare, ₹1-1.50 per minute time charge, and ₹22-30 per kilometre distance charge.
The unions allege Ola, Uber and Rapido determine fares arbitrarily because Madhya Pradesh lacks a clear policy for fixing taxi fares.
Drivers previously boycotted airport rides on June 23-25, claiming companies temporarily revised fares after the protest but later reverted; they also raised concerns over illegal private vehicles and bike taxis.
- Who
- Bhopal Taxi Drivers' Union, affiliated with Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, and Taxi Union Kalyan Samiti Sarv Bharat (referred to as Taxi Union Welfare Committee of India in one report), representing taxi drivers in Madhya Pradesh, protesting against ride-hailing companies Ola, Uber and Rapido.
- What
- Announced a statewide agitation, an August 15 rally, and a planned gherao of the Chief Minister's residence to demand a government-approved taxi fare structure.
- Where
- Bhopal and across the state of Madhya Pradesh.
- When
- The decision was made at a meeting in Bhopal on Saturday; a rally on August 15 and a state-level protest from August 18-20 are planned, with the final indefinite protest date not yet announced.
- Why
- Drivers say the absence of a clear state fare policy lets aggregator companies set fares arbitrarily, hurting their earnings.
Key facts
- Protest dates
- Rally Aug 15; state-level protest Aug 18-20
- Protest actions
- Gherao of Chief Minister's residence planned
- Aggregators named
- Ola, Uber, Rapido
- Demanded base fare
- ₹50-60 per ride
- Demanded time charge
- ₹1-1.50 per minute
- Demanded distance charge
- ₹22-30 per kilometre
- Union affiliation
- Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh
- Earlier action
- Airport ride boycott on June 23-25
Sources
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