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The uber driver strike today has brought Mumbai’s ride-hailing services to a standstill as thousands of cab drivers from Uber, Ola, and Rapido stopped work on July 15 in protest. We’re witnessing one of the largest coordinated actions by gig workers in the city, organized by several labor groups including the Maharashtra Gig Kamgar Manch and the Indian Gig Workers Front.
What’s driving this massive protest? Primarily, it’s about survival. Drivers claim their earnings have plummeted to just Rs 8-12 per kilometer after commissions and fuel costs. This shocking uber income per day has made it virtually impossible for many to sustain their livelihoods. Additionally, the uber drivers protest includes demands that app-based cab fares be brought on par with traditional black-and-yellow taxis.
The effects are already being felt across Mumbai. In fact, Mumbai Airport has issued an advisory warning passengers to plan alternative transportation arrangements in advance. As we continue to monitor this situation, the uber driver strike update today indicates no immediate resolution is in sight, leaving both drivers and commuters in a difficult position.
Why Are Uber Drivers Protesting in Mumbai Today?
App-based cab services across Mumbai have been severely disrupted as the strike enters its third consecutive day. Nearly 90% of drivers have joined the protest, leaving very few vehicles available for booking. This widespread participation has created significant transportation challenges throughout the city, particularly in key areas such as the airport zone, Bandra-Kurla Complex, Andheri, and South Mumbai.
Strike app usage surges as drivers go offline
The massive exodus of drivers from platforms has resulted in waiting times stretching to 30 minutes or more for rides that normally take just 10 minutes to book. Commuters attempting to use ride-hailing apps are encountering frequent cancelations, with many drivers calling passengers directly to inform them about the ongoing strike. Meanwhile, the Airport Authority issued a travel advisory on social media urging passengers to arrange alternative transportation and plan their journeys accordingly.
Drivers demand better pay and working conditions
At the heart of the protest are economic grievances that have reached a breaking point. Drivers claim their actual earnings have plummeted to merely ₹8-12 per kilometer after deducting platform commissions and fuel expenses. The situation has become so dire that the protest intensified following the tragic suicide of a 46-year-old cab driver who was unable to repay his vehicle loan installments.
The striking drivers have outlined several key demands:
- Fare parity with traditional black-and-yellow taxis (₹32/km for AC cabs)
- Ban on bike taxis operating through aggregator apps
- Caps on new permits for taxis and auto-rickshaws
- Formation of a dedicated welfare board for gig-based transport workers
- Implementation of a ‘Maharashtra Gig Workers Act’ modeled on policies in other states
Uber driver strike update today trends on social media
The strike has gained significant traction online, with #UberDriverStrike trending across platforms. Nevertheless, despite meetings between union representatives and Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik earlier this week, no concrete resolutions have emerged. The Maharashtra Gig Works Manch has vowed to continue the agitation until the government provides clear commitments on their demands.
Currently, commuters are turning to municipal BEST busses, local trains, and auto-rickshaws as alternatives. However, those trying to reach the airport or railway stations are still facing major disruptions. The lack of a regulatory framework for app-based services has created a gray area that continues to fuel conflicts between drivers, platforms, and passengers.
How Low Daily Income is Forcing Drivers to Strike
Financial desperation lies at the core of the cab drivers’ protest as earnings have plummeted to unsustainable levels. At the heart of this crisis is a compensation model that has steadily deteriorated, leaving many drivers unable to cover basic expenses.
Uber income per day falls to Rs 8–12/km after costs
The stark reality for app-based drivers is that they receive merely ₹8 to ₹12 per kilometer after deductions. This represents a fraction of what traditional taxis earn, as the base fare for Mumbai’s kaali-peeli taxis stands at ₹31, with subsequent charges of ₹18 per kilometer. This dramatic disparity has created an untenable situation for thousands of drivers who joined these platforms expecting fair compensation.
The situation turned tragic last Wednesday when a 46-year-old cab driver died by suicide, reportedly due to his inability to repay vehicle loan installments. This incident galvanized the protest movement, highlighting the severe financial stress many drivers face.
Drivers say current model is financially unsustainable
One protesting driver explained the impossible mathematics of his daily operations: “I have to spend not only on fuel and maintenance but also pay taxes and maybe the occasional traffic fine, the total sum of which comes to over ₹1,600 per day. My daily earnings are ₹1,500 to ₹2,000. How is this profitable?”
Furthermore, drivers allege that platforms frequently offer heavily discounted rides to passengers, but then deduct these discounts from driver earnings rather than absorbing the costs themselves. This practice, combined with arbitrary ID suspensions for minor issues, has created a climate of financial uncertainty.
No support for rising fuel and maintenance expenses
The protest gained momentum primarily due to mounting operational costs. Drivers must cover:
- Rising fuel prices that have increased approximately 15% since January
- Vehicle maintenance costs (estimated at ₹3,000-₹5,000 monthly)
- Car loan EMIs (averaging ₹600 daily)
Dr. Keshav Kshirsagar, president of the Maharashtra Kamgar Sabha, accused aggregator companies of exploiting gig workers. Consequently, transport experts view this strike as symptomatic of broader issues within the gig economy, where workers routinely face unpredictable pay and poor working conditions.
While the Maharashtra government announced a policy to regulate aggregator services over a year ago, it remains unimplemented. Officials acknowledge this regulatory gap is fueling ongoing conflicts between platforms, drivers, and passengers.
What Are the Key Demands of the Striking Drivers?
Striking app-based drivers have articulated a comprehensive list of demands as the uber driver strike today continues across Mumbai. These demands address longstanding grievances that have been brewing for years, primarily focusing on economic fairness and worker protections.
Equal fares with kaali-peeli taxis
The central demand from protesting drivers is achieving fare parity with Mumbai’s traditional black-and-yellow taxis. Currently, app-based drivers earn merely ₹8-12 per kilometer after deductions, whereas kaali-peeli taxis operate with a base fare of ₹31 for 1.5 kilometers followed by ₹18 per kilometer. Drivers are demanding that AC app-based cabs receive ₹32 per kilometer – essentially matching the established taxi rates. Anand Kute from Maharashtra Rajya Rashtriya Kamgar Sangh emphasized, “We are not asking for luxury—just parity”.
Ban on bike taxis and discount deductions
Moreover, drivers are calling for an immediate prohibition on bike taxis operating through aggregator platforms, citing unfair competition and safety concerns. Another major grievance involves the platforms’ discount practices. Drivers allege that when companies offer discounted rides to passengers, the cost difference is often deducted from their earnings. “These platforms continuously decrease driver earnings year after year as means to show they are profitable to investors,” noted one protesting driver. Additionally, drivers want a cap on new permits for kaali-peeli cabs and auto-rickshaws to prevent market oversaturation.
Formation of a welfare board for gig workers
Beyond immediate economic concerns, drivers are pushing for structural changes. They’re demanding the creation of a dedicated welfare board for app-based transport workers alongside the enactment of a Maharashtra Gig Workers’ Act. This legislation would provide social security benefits and formalize their employment status. Drivers specifically want offices established in Mumbai where they can file grievances and a transparent review process for suspended driver IDs. Some unions are seeking benefits similar to those recently announced in Rajasthan, which included plans for a ₹200 crore welfare fund.
As the strike progresses, drivers remain firm that all these demands must be addressed together for any meaningful resolution to occur.
How the Strike is Affecting Commuters and the City
Transport disruptions have escalated across Mumbai as the uber driver strike today enters its third day, with an estimated 90% of app-based cabs off the roads. The impact has been particularly severe at key locations including central Mumbai, Bandra-Kurla Complex, Andheri, and South Mumbai.
Mumbai Airport issues travel advisory
In response to the growing crisis, Mumbai International Airport Limited posted an urgent advisory on X (formerly Twitter) requesting passengers to make alternative arrangements before traveling. “In light of ongoing protests in the state, passengers traveling via #MumbaiAirport are advised to check transport availability and plan alternate arrangements in advance,” read the official statement. This unprecedented step highlights the severity of transportation challenges, as hundreds of travelers find themselves stranded upon arrival.
Passengers face delays and limited cab availability
Throughout the city, commuters attempting to book rides are experiencing waiting times of 8-12 minutes minimum, with some areas reporting delays stretching to 30 minutes or more for rides that normally take just 10 minutes to secure. One corporate lawyer, Aditi Budhkar, shared her experience: “I commute every day from Mahim to my office in Parel by cab. For the past three days, it’s been taking me more than half an hour to get a ride that is normally booked in 10 minutes”.
The situation has been especially challenging during peak hours, with school runs and airport pickups worst affected. In certain cases, passengers report distressing incidents where protesters forced drivers to cancel mid-ride.
Commuters turn to local trains and busses
As a result of these disruptions, many Mumbai residents have shifted to municipal busses operated by BEST, autorickshaws, or walked to nearby railway and metro stations. Public transport modes have witnessed a sharp increase in demand, creating secondary pressure on these services. Airport data shows the ripple effect has impacted flight schedules, with over 20 flights experiencing delays across airlines including Air India, IndiGo, SpiceJet, and others.
The Mumbai cab driver strike has undoubtedly exposed the growing tensions within India’s gig economy. Despite three days of massive disruption affecting thousands of commuters, a resolution remains elusive. Drivers feel trapped in an unsustainable economic model where earnings barely cover basic expenses, while platforms maintain their position regarding competitive pricing and market dynamics.
Meanwhile, the ripple effects continue to spread across Mumbai’s transportation ecosystem. Traditional taxis and auto-rickshaws face overwhelming demand, BEST busses operate at capacity, and airport operations face scheduling challenges. The suicide of a driver unable to meet loan payments stands as a stark reminder of what’s truly at stake in this dispute.
Though meetings between union representatives and government officials have taken place, concrete commitments addressing the core demands remain absent. The lack of regulatory frameworks specifically designed for app-based transport services has created a problematic gray area where worker protections fall short.
Ultimately, this strike represents more than just a temporary inconvenience for Mumbai residents. The struggle highlights fundamental questions about fair compensation in the digital economy, worker classification, and sustainable business models. Until these underlying issues receive proper attention, the conflict between drivers seeking livable wages and platforms pursuing profitability will likely persist, potentially inspiring similar actions across other Indian cities.
The coming days will prove critical as pressure mounts on all parties to find common ground. Commuters caught in the middle simply hope for reliable transportation to return soon to India’s financial capital.
