Hyderabad Top News

Telangana cab drivers protest low fares with ‘No AC Campaign’

Listen to Story
Telangana Gig And Platform Workers Union's No Ac Campaign

HYDERABAD: On Monday, April 8, the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union (TGPWU) announced the ‘No AC Campaign,’ led by its founder, Shaik Salauddin, in response to declining per-kilometer fares offered by major cab aggregators. 

Drivers working with Uber, Ola, and Rapido apps are struggling to use air conditioning (AC) in their cabs due to declining per-kilometer fares. The current fare structure, coupled with soaring temperatures up to 43 degrees Celsius, results in significantly higher fuel and maintenance costs when the AC is used. Running cabs with AC amounts to approximately â‚ą16-18 per kilometer, while drivers earn only about â‚ą10 per kilometer after accounting for commissions charged by the platforms. Hence, the drivers launched the No AC Campaign starting this week.

For Fair Fare

Highlighting the disparity where bike taxis and autos currently receive higher fares than cabs, the union questioned the algorithms behind fare calculations, while seeking transparency and fairness. “How is the algorithm calculating these fares? How is the algorithm unable to take into account the actual costs of running cabs on the streets in this heat? How can the cost of running a cab be lower than the cost of running bike taxis and autos—both of which do not have ACs?” the organization asked in a press note while asking for customers’ understanding and support.

Further, suggesting that if passengers want the AC on, they could consider tipping to help cover the increased costs, TGPWU wrote, “If they require the AC to be switched on during rides, we request them to kindly offer us a tip to help us adequately meet the costs,” in post on X.

TGPWU’s Nationwide Campaign Threat

The drivers’ union also called upon the Telangana State Government to implement uniform fares per kilometer for all taxis and ensure platform companies comply with regulations. However, their efforts to communicate their grievances are going unheard, leaving them with no choice but to escalate their protest.

“If our demands are not urgently addressed, TGPWU, in collaboration with trade unions in other states, will be forced to launch a nationwide campaign for the same,” the gig workers’ body warned.

Telangana Gig And Platform Workers Union Announces No Ac Campaign