App-cab drivers suspend strike after govt assurance

Unions threaten to resume stir if key demands not met within 15 days

- Shashank Rao

The ongoing strike by drivers of app-based cabs in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) and other cities in Maharashtra fizzled out on Friday, with the Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers (IFAT), among the largest of the 14 unions participating in the strike, urging drivers to return to their jobs.

Although a section of the drivers and unions were in favour of prolonging the stir, a majority of them were concerned about the impact on their livelihood and wanted to give some time to the state government to consider their demands.

Officials from the state transport department also held a meeting with the unions on Friday, requesting them to withdraw the protest.

“We informed the driver unions that we are positively working towards implementing the policy for app-based cabs soon. We are also taking action against bike taxis plying on roads illegally,” Bharat Kalaskar, additional transport commissioner, transport department, told Hindustan Times.