Cab Fares May Rise as Drivers Threaten to Boycott Uber in Pune, Mumbai, and Nagpur

Pune, 25th July 2025: App-based cab services in Pune, Mumbai, and Nagpur are likely to face disruptions from Friday onwards, as drivers affiliated with the Indian Gig Workers’ Front have announced a boycott of the Uber platform. The move is expected to trigger fare hikes and inconvenience daily commuters.

The protest follows a legal dispute between Uber and cab drivers. The company had approached the Bombay High Court against the ongoing strike, resulting in a court order restraining unions and their members from obstructing Uber’s operations.

“Ola and Rapido chose not to move court, but Uber did. While we are exploring legal remedies, cab drivers will voluntarily stop accepting rides on the Uber app,” said Keshav Kshirsagar, president of the Indian Gig Workers’ Front, after a key meeting held at the transport commissioner’s office in Mumbai. Representatives from transport unions in Pune, Mumbai, and Nagpur, along with senior RTO officials, attended the meeting.

Sources in the local transport sector say Uber is the most widely used ride-hailing app among drivers in Pune. “Drivers have the option to work across Ola, Uber, and Rapido, but the boycott of Uber will certainly impact availability and could lead to surge pricing,” Kshirsagar added.

Commuters have expressed frustration over the continuing disputes between drivers and aggregators. “Every day it’s a new issue. Fares are rising constantly, and many drivers insist on charging RTA-approved rates instead of what the app shows,” said Rajesh Shinde, a resident of Koregaon Park. “Why the RTO doesn’t enforce the rules is baffling.”

As per Pune’s Regional Transport Authority (RTA), the approved taxi fare structure is ₹75 for the first 3 kilometers, followed by ₹25 per kilometer.

Kshirsagar said Thursday’s meeting yielded no tangible results. “On Wednesday, the app-based companies had agreed to provide a written assurance about when RTA fares would be implemented on their platforms. However, no such commitment has come in writing, which is why today’s meeting was called. Still, no clarity has emerged,” he noted.

With tensions simmering and no resolution in sight, commuters across the three cities are bracing for higher travel costs and reduced availability of cabs starting Friday.