• Source:JND
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Pune News:  The Indian Gig Workers Front (IGWF) has called for a boycott of Ola and Uber from December 11 to 15, which might make it difficult for commuters in Pune to book rides next week. The demonstration draws attention to calls for lower fares and raises concerns about the legality of the aggregators' unlicensed operations.

Keshav Kshirsagar, president of the IGWF, declared that the main protest will take place on December 11 at AeroMall, which is close to Pune airport. “Drivers working with these platforms will not accept rides during the boycott period,” he said. He further added, “However, passengers can negotiate directly with drivers for trips, and fares will be charged as per the government-prescribed rate of Rs 24 per kilometer.”

Kshirsagar, who highlighted the financial difficulties faced by taxi owners, invited drivers in Pimpri-Chinchwad and Pune to participate in the demonstration.

“We have formally informed the airport director, AeroMall management, and the airport police station about the planned protest,” he added.

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A local driver expressed his displeasure with the way things are currently run.

“The aggregators take a significant cut of the earnings, leaving us with barely enough to sustain ourselves,” he explained.

“Additionally, the increasing number of cabs in the city has intensified competition, further reducing our income.”

The license problem has also been scrutinised. In March, the Regional Transport Authority (RTA) denied Ola and Uber's applications for licenses, claiming that they did not adhere to the Central Aggregator Policy. According to Sanjiv Bhor, a Pune RTO official, the platforms used temporary licenses in Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, and Baramati that had since expired. The businesses have carried on with their operations despite enforcement warnings.

Providing an update on the licensing status, Pune Regional Transport Officer Archana Gaikwad said, “The matter regarding their license applications is scheduled for a hearing on December 20.”