Hyderabad Cab Drivers to Launch 'No AC' Protest Against Low Fares

Starting today, March 24, app-based taxi drivers in Hyderabad will begin turning off the air conditioning during rides as part of their protest against what they consider unfair compensation from platforms like Ola, Uber, and Rapido.

This "No AC Campaign" follows recent actions where drivers refused airport pickups. The protest was organised by the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers' Union (TGPWU), which announced the campaign through social media.

The drivers' union is pushing for standardised fare structures across all ride-hailing services, comparable to the pre-paid taxi rates established by state authorities. They want pricing that adequately covers fuel expenses, and vehicle maintenance costs, and provides reasonable earnings for drivers.

(Also Read: Ola Cabs To Exit International Operations)

This isn't the first such demonstration by Hyderabad's cab drivers. A similar "No AC" initiative took place in April 2024, when drivers highlighted that while they earned only ₹10-12 per kilometre, operating a cab with air conditioning costs approximately ₹16-18 per kilometre. Back then, several Ola-Uber drivers had also planned to surrender their vehicles to the Road Transport Authority (RTA) following the campaign. However, it seems that the pay disparity has sustained, and has not been addressed efficiently. Will cab aggregators like Uber, Ola, and Rapid revise prices following this protest, remains to be seen.

(Also Read: Karnataka Mulling To Impose Fee On Swiggy, Zomato, Rapido, Uber, Others: Report)