Mumbai Auto, Taxi Unions To Protest Tomorrow, October 19

In order to press for their demands, taxi, autorickshaw and aggregator cab unions have announced a people protest on Thursday, October 19, at Mumbai Airport Terminal 2.

The unions are pushing for various reforms to improve their members’ working condition.

The airport taxi-auto and aggregator cab service will not be affected during our protest, said union leader Taufiq Shaikh. He also warned of strike in future if requests are not met.

The demands of the unions include hike in prepaid fares for taxis, proper parking facilities for taxis, private cabs and autos and a sympathetic view on drivers who are unable to park vehicles before picking up passengers and end up paying exorbitant challans.

Earlier, the Mumbai Rickshawmen's Union had petitioned the government for a fare hike of INR 2 in the base fare of autorickshaws in the suburbs.

The union leader justified the hike based on factors such as the consumer price index and increased costs of vehicle maintenance, repair, insurance, and taxes. However, consumer rights activists and commuters oppose the fare hike, pointing out that the cost of CNG has dropped multiple times this year. They suggest implementing a telescopic fare system instead. Though no decision has been made by the transport authorities yet.

Labourers leader Abhijeet Rane, founder general secretary of Dhadak Auto Rickshaw-Taxi Driver-Owners Association will also be present.

Maharashtra Taxi, Rickshaw, Cab Drivers Joint Action Committee meeting was held on 30 September 2023. After this meeting, a statement was given to the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister regarding various pending issues of Kali-Pili taxis, rickshaws, total cabs, app based taxi drivers and delivery personnel.

The demands also include:

The rate of vouchers given to black and yellow taxi drivers ferrying passengers at Terminals 1 and 2 of Mumbai Airport should be immediately increased.

Pre-Corona parking spaces and prepaid counters for black and yellow taxis carrying passengers at Terminal 2 of Mumbai Airport should be restored and the prepaid counters should be handed over to the organizations.

Prepaid counters for auto rickshaws should be introduced at Terminal 1 and 2 of Mumbai Airport.