Hyderabad Airport Cab Boycott From Sept 10 Over Fare Disputes

<p>Hyderabad's app-based cab drivers will stop accepting trips to Rajiv Gandhi International Airport from Thursday, September 10, the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union (TGPWU) has announced, escalating a long-running dispute over airport fares and working conditions.</p>
<p>The decision comes after months of representations by TGPWU and the Telangana App-Based Drivers Forum (TADF) went unheeded. On August 31, representatives of both bodies met the management of Uber, Ola and Rapido in a meeting presided over by the Ranga Reddy Zone Joint Commissioner of Labour. The senior officer urged the three cab aggregators to implement fares prescribed under Government Order 46 (GO 46). According to TGPWU founder president Shaik Salauddin, that advice was disregarded.</p>
<p>"The advice was not taken into consideration," Salauddin said.</p>
<p>Along with fare implementation, the union has put forward several other demands. These include increasing the free airport drop-off waiting time from eight minutes to 10 to 15 minutes, withdrawing Rs 500 penalties currently imposed on drivers, and ensuring fair and transparent airport fare structures. TGPWU has also called for action against unauthorised and illegal cab operations at the airport, and equal treatment for drivers working on the Ola, Rapido and Uber platforms.</p>
<p>"This is not a demand for special treatment. It is a demand for fairness, dignity, lawful fares and equal treatment for app-based drivers," Salauddin said.</p>