All India Breakdown: App-Based Taxi and Auto Drivers Stage Nationwide Strike

Drivers of app-based taxis and autorickshaws across India observed a one-day nationwide strike on February 7, calling the action the “All India Breakdown,” in a coordinated protest against major ride-hailing platforms including Ola, Uber, and Rapido. The agitation was led by the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union (TGPWU), which said drivers are facing mounting income instability due to what it described as arbitrary fare-setting practices by aggregators. According to unions, fares are often determined unilaterally by platforms without adequate government oversight, leaving drivers with fluctuating and unsustainable earnings.

Worker groups argue that despite existing regulatory frameworks, implementation gaps have allowed platforms to alter pricing structures in ways that disproportionately affect drivers’ take-home pay. Another key flashpoint is the rapid expansion of bike taxi services, which unions allege operate in a legal grey area in several regions while significantly undercutting traditional taxi and autorickshaw fares. Drivers also raised concerns over open permit policies that have increased the number of autorickshaws on the road, intensifying competition and further shrinking daily incomes.

Financial pressure from compliance requirements has added to the unrest. In Maharashtra, driver associations say repeated changes in authorised vendors for safety devices have forced many to reinstall panic buttons multiple times, with expenses reportedly reaching up to ₹12,000 per vehicle. Protesters say the strike reflects broader frustration over rising operational costs, lack of clear regulation, and what they describe as platform-driven exploitation. Unions are demanding minimum base fares, transparent fare policies, and stronger government intervention to ensure income security for app-based transport workers.

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