Amid protests by app-based cab drivers protesting lower earnings, data received from the Maharashtra Regional Transport Office show a drop in the number of people seeking tourist cab permits in Mumbai. New vehicle registrations under tourist cabs, which include Ola and Uber, has seen a sharp drop of 70 per cent in April-September 2018 as compared to the same period last year. Data shows that 4,164 tourist cabs have been registered since April this year as compared to 13,433 vehicles registered between April-September 2017. Transport officials and experts have attributed this to the dip in popularity of the app-based cabs among drivers, who have complained of lesser incentives and unhealthy working lifestyles. For the last two years, drivers have been complaining of lower earnings and difficulties in paying the monthly instalments of cars. “Cab companies like Ola and Uber follow uneconomical transport model. They followed a surge pricing model by hiking fares up to three of four times causing inconvenience to commuters. The effects of the model have started to wear out and early investors have withdrawn their cars,” a senior transport official said. In 2017, tourist cabs, including Ola and Uber, had outnumbered kaali-peelis in the city after drivers found the mobile app-based cab model more profitable. Promised better incentives on each ride, they were able to earn good incentives after taking 10 rides in a day, drivers claimed. For the last nine days, 40,000 drivers have been off roads demanding better earnings from cab companies. After they were unable to meet the transport commissioner on Tuesday, they met Ola and Uber officials. Ola driver Rajendra Jagdale said that paying monthly instalments of his car has become difficult since his incentives have decreased. “ I have two daughters and fear how I will be able to take care of them. Paying monthly instalments of the car has become difficult. It is difficult to lead a life this way.” An Uber spokesperson said, “We continue to engage with all relevant stakeholders with a view to restore services to the people and city of Mumbai at the earliest. We have always been and continue to be committed to sustainable driver earnings and to discuss all other issues raised by the driver partners. We look to the support of law enforcement in helping driver partners get back behind the wheel without fear of intimidation and assault.”Despite attempts, Ola did not comment on the issue.
