Hyderabad Taxi Drivers To Turn Up The Heat With 'No AC Campaign' On March 24 Challenging Low Fare Rates

Hyderabad Cab Protest:  To protest the unfair rates imposed by Ola, Uber, Rapido, and other cab aggregators, taxi drivers in Hyderabad, Telangana, decided to start a "no AC campaign" on March 24 in the aftermath of a boycott of trips to the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport.

In a post on X, the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers’ Union (TGPWU) said, “Cab drivers in Hyderabad to begin ‘No AC Campaign’ from March 24. Telangana Gig and Platform Workers' Union wants cab-aggregators to implement a uniform fare structure similar to the government-mandated prepaid taxi fares, which reflect fuel costs, maintenance and fair compensation for the driver’s services.”

In April 2024, the union also organised a "no AC campaign," claiming that drivers would only be paid Rs 10–12 per kilometre, although operating a taxi with air conditioning cost Rs 16–18 per kilometre.

ALSO READ: Ola, Uber And Rapido Drivers To Boycott Hyderabad Airport Rides Over Low Fare Disputes With Aggregators

According to Telangana Today, TGPWU president Shaik Salahuddin stated that the union will use a number of tactics, such as the "no AC campaign," to protest the unjust prices that taxi aggregators give.

He went on to say that the prices charged by pre-paid taxis and aggregators varied by around Rs 300 to 400. Cab drivers sometimes earn little money since they must wait three to four hours at the airport for a return journey and pay a thirty percent commission from the fee to the app they use.

Meanwhile, customers will have to deal with taxi drivers refusing to switch on the air conditioner when the summer heat rises since it uses more fuel and costs the drivers money.