Auto, taxi unions threaten strike; want app-based cabs stopped

Taxi and autorickshaw union in Delhi today threatened to go on a two-day strike from March 15 if their demand to rein in the city's app-based cab services is not met.
Delhi Autorickshaw Sangh and Delhi Pradesh Taxi Union today wrote to Delhi Transport Minister Gopal Rai and demanded to stop all app-based private cab services, saying they were taking away the livelihood of traditional black-yellow taxi and autorickshaw drivers.
Rajendra Soni, general secretary of both unions, has threatened that if government does not pay heed to their demand immediately, all taxis and autorickshaws will go off work on March 15 and 16.

There are around 13,000 black-yellow taxis and around 81,000 autorickshaws plying on the streets of the national capital.
"App-based taxi services are affecting our business and we cannot sit silent. Government should stop their services as most of app-based cab operators are not following rules," Soni said.
In his letter to the Delhi government, Soni also said autorickshaws and taxis are impounded for minor violations causing problems to the drivers.