Online Taxi Service Drivers Launch Indefinite Strike Over Fares, Commissions

Thiruvananthapuram: Online taxi services across Keralam to halt services on Tuesday as drivers associated with private ride-hailing platforms Ola, Uber and Rapido, along with the state-run Kerala Savari service, set to launch an indefinite strike.

The joint protest has been called demanding the implementation of 11 key demands, including the fixation of fair fares and the reduction of excessive commissions charged by aggregator platforms.

Ahead of the strike, drivers' organisations had submitted letters to the companies seeking discussions. However, they alleged that the companies failed to hold meaningful negotiations. The drivers have maintained that services will not resume until their demands are accepted.

One of the primary grievances raised by the drivers is that ride-hailing companies deduct nearly half of the fare as commission. According to the protesters, a ride costing ₹1,000 leaves them with only around ₹500 after commission deductions.

Drivers also pointed to rising fuel prices, saying the increasing operational costs have pushed them into severe financial distress. They urged the state government to intervene immediately.

The protesters also argued that there are already more vehicles than required on the platforms and that adding new vehicles further reduces drivers' earnings. They have also demanded a complete ban on bike taxis operating illegally.

As part of the strike, drivers have switched off their online service applications and gone offline, disrupting app-based taxi services across the state. The strike is expected to cause major travel disruptions, particularly in cities such as Kochi, affecting IT employees, office-goers and passengers travelling to airports and railway stations.