Now, taxi union opposes ride-sharing services

The popular ride-sharing service introduced by app-based aggregators such as Ola and Uber has sparked another tussle between the air-conditioned cabs and traditional black and yellow taxi drivers.

The popular ride-sharing service introduced by app-based aggregators such as Ola and Uber has sparked another tussle between the air-conditioned cabs and traditional black and yellow taxi drivers.

While Uber has launched ride-sharing services called UberPool, Ola has similar facility christened as OlaShare (Hindustan Times)

The Mumbai Taximen’s Union, one of the prominent groups representing taxi drivers, has objected carpooling by Ola and Uber, saying that these services do not have permission from the transport authorities— the State Transport Authority and Mumbai Metropolitan Region Transport Authority.

While Uber has launched ride-sharing services called UberPool, Ola has similar facility christened as OlaShare.

The carpooling makes the travel cheaper for customers who share ride.

On the other hand, taxi aggregators’ discounted rides have invariably affected the business of Kaali-Peeli drivers, who alleged that transport authorities have surrendered to Ola and Uber.

Regional Transport Offices and the traffic police are turning blind eye towards violation by the aggregators, they alleged.

“Ubder and Ola are allowed to make their own rules and regulations on day to day basis, which affects livelihood of poor taxi drivers,” said AL Quadros, the leader of the union.

The union has registered a written complaint with transport secretory Sudhir Srivastav and demanded immediate action against the aggregators.

“The government should not allow them to continue with car-pooling,” he said.

Transport secretary Srivastava and transport commissioner Shyam Vardhan were not available for their comments.