Taxi drivers hold dharma to regulate online apps in Telangana

HYDERABAD: The Telangana State Taxi and Drivers Joint Action Committee held a dharna in front of the transport commissioner’s office here on Tuesday, seeking a law on the lines of the one enacted by the Rajasthan government to regulate online apps as well as the constitution of a welfare board.  

Among their demands was the introduction of legislation guaranteeing the social security of gig and platform workers, an increase in accident insurance from ₹5 lakhs to ₹10 lakhs, an increase in fare slabs, parking places, removal of the penalty for failing to renew driving licences, a ban on ride-hailing app services, and the abolition of green tax and quarterly tax. They also wanted the government to develop a ride-hailing app.

They said the minimum autorickshaw fare of ₹20 was last revised by the Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy government, and the price of petrol had gone up from ₹30 to ₹100. since then. “We want the minimum charge to be revised to ₹40, said Jogu Ramulu, joint secretary of, Autorickshaw Drivers Union affiliated to the AITUC.

He said the ride-hailing apps were affecting the traditional vehicle drivers. “The removal of road tax of ₹350 has not benefited us as we are losing that amount with just one challan.” He said all insurance companies had increased insurance premiums.

“We want a revision of rates of cabs given on hire to government departments from ₹34,000 to ₹56,000 per month. All pending bills should be cleared immediately,” said Shaik Salauddin, co-convenor of the Telangana Telangana State Taxi and Drivers Joint Action Committee.

“Many of us are owner-drivers. For a fixed payment of ₹34,000 per month, we have to foot all the expenses. I had to barter my wife’s jewellery to see me through,” said a driver whose bills the commercial tax department had not cleared.