Following the statement by the Telangana drivers and gig workers organisation to charge more for turning on the air conditioning due to a rise in fuel prices and a low trip fee, Uber India has decided to take matters into its own hands.
In a statement issued on Friday, the app-based taxi aggregator said that trip costs in Hyderabad will be increased by 15%.
“We listen to feedback from drivers and realise that the current surge in gasoline prices is generating worry,” Uber India and South Asia’s head of central operations said in a statement. Uber is hiking trip rates in Hyderabad by 15% to help drivers cope with the impact of rising gasoline prices. We will continue to monitor fuel price changes in the coming weeks and take additional steps if needed.”
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Drivers in Hyderabad who work for online cab aggregators have agreed to charge clients more for air conditioners. In a few taxis, a sticker reading ‘AC on extra costs Rs 50 to Rs 100’ has been seen. The Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union (TGPWU) launched the ‘No AC’ campaign, claiming that while a GO issued in 2016 states that the fee must be Rs 17 per kilometre, several cab aggregators are only charging Rs 12 per km.
Shaik Salauddin, Founder State President of the Telangana Gig and Platforms Workers Union (TGPWU), argues that rising gasoline prices have created additional stress on cab drivers, and that cab companies must act to offer encouragement to the drivers.
Hyderabad: No More Cool AC Rides, Ola/Uber
The Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union (TGPWU) said on Saturday that a “NO AC” campaign would be held in Hyderabad to inform and educate drivers and consumers about the issues that Ola and Uber’s drivers face, particularly in light of rising fuel expenses.
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Officials from the TGPWU stated, “The aggregator companies refuse to listen to the complaints of the drivers and rectify the issue. The current diesel price in Hyderabad is Rs 98.10 per litre. The Department of Transportation must step in. To turn on the air conditioning, drivers needed at least Rs 24-Rs 25 per kilometre, which is now less than Rs 12-Rs 13 per km. We understand the problems customers will face if they turn off their air conditioners in this hot weather.”
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