New Delhi, Feb. 7 : App based transport workers associated with platforms such as Ola, Uber, Rapido, and Porter launched a nationwide “breakdown” on Saturday, potentially disrupting ride hailing services across multiple cities. The protest has been organised by the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union (TGPWU) and the Indian Federation of App Based Transport Workers (IFAT), citing declining incomes and what they describe as growing exploitation in the sector.
Union leaders said many drivers are participating by logging out of apps or cancelling trips, a strategy intended to draw attention to their grievances. The agitation follows delays by both Central and state governments in notifying minimum base fares under the Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines, 2025—allowing companies to continue setting fares independently.
Shaik Salahuddin, founder president of TGPWU and co-founder of IFAT, stated that despite the guidelines being in place, the absence of enforceable fare protections has resulted in unsustainable working conditions for drivers. According to him, the protest aims to spotlight shrinking earnings and push authorities to act swiftly.
Among the primary demands is the immediate announcement of minimum base fares in consultation with recognised worker unions, as mandated by the 2025 regulations. The unions have also called for a ban on private vehicles being used for commercial transport, or alternatively, compulsory conversion of such vehicles into the commercial category in line with existing motor vehicle laws.
While the strike is nationwide, the level of disruption is expected to vary across major urban centres including Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Pune. In Telangana alone, union estimates suggest around 2.5 lakh autorickshaw drivers, 1.5 lakh cab drivers, and nearly 50,000 Porter operators depend on aggregator platforms.
The TGPWU had earlier informed Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, Telangana Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar, and other officials about the planned action, urging immediate dialogue with worker representatives. The unions maintain that fair and transparent regulation is essential to ensure long-term sustainability in the rapidly expanding app-based transport industry.