In a bid to champion equitable pricing, cab drivers in Hyderabad have kickstarted the ‘Low Fare, No Air’ initiative, demanding increased fares for airport rides.
This campaign was launched on Monday by the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union (TGPWU) and it accompanied an apology to the customers. “The drivers empathise with their passengers, acknowledging the inconvenience of enduring long queues and extended waiting times at the airport, all while grappling with the challenges posed by meagre airport fares,” the TGPWU said as part of the campaign.
For drivers shuttling passengers from Hyderabad city to the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA), bookings typically yield a amount ranging from ₹300 to ₹600. After dropping the passenger at the airport, drivers face a waiting period spanning 2 to 4 hours before securing another booking, which gets them another ₹500. Compounding their difficulties, these drivers are further burdened by a 30% commission imposed by the cab aggregator companies. “With such diminished earnings, it becomes a challenge for us to meet our rental and EMI obligations. We expect our drivers to earn ₹1200 for every 25-30 kilometre so that we have sufficient money in hand after the 30% deduction,” emphasised Shaik Salauddin of the TGPWU.
