Ola may allow drivers to opt out of share taxi system

This decision was taken at the meeting which was held between the aggregator and taxi drivers at Guindy on Friday.

“The share services helped the taxi aggregator firm to generate a good revenue. But the drivers were treated unfairly while awarding commission. For instance, if a driver makes Rs 800 at the end of a trip, he would get a mere Rs 200 as his share, despite the drivers clocking in over three hours on the city roads,” said M Boopathi, general secretary, Tamil Nadu Call Taxi Thozhilalargal Sangam.

During the meeting, the taxi aggregator agreed to introduce a parking system, which will aid them pass the opportunity of riding a share service to other drivers.

This system is likely to be applicable in taking rides in the future. “Currently, the drivers who decline rides are deprived of rides for the next three hours. Therefore, the representatives of taxi drivers placed a demand to introduce a system to pass on the rides which are located beyond five kilometers radius,” said a taxi driver on an anonymity.

The other demands include reducing the number of trips to be undertaken during the peak hours from eight to five. During the meeting, the cab aggregator also agreed to ban the bike taxi admitting that it was unlawful.

Last year, the taxi drivers had staged two major strikes and a few minor strikes demanding higher tariff fixation and award of fair commissions to them.