Rains help cab drivers earn extra

Hyderabad: Drivers working with app-based cab aggregator services made merry during the recent rains as surge charges due to unfavourable weather conditions helped them earn more over the past fortnight.

There are around 60,000 drivers in the city, who said that the rains, coupled with increased demand due to the festivals of Bonalu and Bakrid, led to a constant surge in fares.

They said that although customers did not mind paying extra, many were frustrated with cancellations as it took hours, in some instances, for people to get a ride.

Ch. Swamy, who works with an app-based cab service, said, “These rains gave extra income for the drivers. Rising fuel prices and other costs have put the drivers in a suffocating position. This month’s earnings are better for most of us.”
Surge charges are decided by the app services, based on the demand, cab availability in a particular locality and weather conditions.

Faheemuddin, a cab driver, who is also a member of the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers’ Union, said, “Cab drivers had a tough time during the lockdown. Many of the cabs were taken away by financers as drivers failed to pay the monthly instalments. But slowly, the transport sector is turning favourable. The government should take steps so that the drivers get better incomes on regular basis.”

Ravikanth Laxmana, an IT employee, said, “The fares were high during the rainy days, but it can be justified as those cab drivers rendered their services braving bad weather conditions when most of us were sitting in comfortable offices.”
Bandhara Pandu, a consultant with a private company, “The cancellations were frustrating. One minute, the cab on the mobile phone screen is seen approaching the pickup location and then suddenly, it fades, informing of cancellation. The rains caused a lot of inconvenience for commuters.”