‘All India Breakdown’: Ola, Uber, Rapido Drivers Stage Nationwide Strike Over Fares, Bike Taxis

Drivers of app-based taxis and autorickshaws across India are observing a one-day nationwide strike on February 7, dubbed the ‘All India Breakdown’. Coordinated by the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union (TGPWU), the protest targets ride-hailing platforms like Ola, Uber and Rapido over what unions describe as arbitrary fare policies, lack of regulation and growing income insecurity.

Unions allege that aggregators unilaterally set fares without government oversight, despite the Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines, 2025, leading to unstable and unsustainable earnings. Drivers are also protesting against the rise of bike taxi services, which they claim operate illegally and undercut their livelihoods, along with the increasing number of autorickshaws permitted under open permit policies.

Additional grievances include financial strain caused by mandatory safety requirements such as panic button installations. In Maharashtra, driver bodies claim frequent changes in authorised device providers have forced drivers to reinstall panic buttons at costs of up to ₹12,000. Overall, the strike reflects mounting frustration among app-based transport workers seeking minimum base fares, regulatory clarity and protection against what they call platform-driven exploitation.

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