New Delhi, February 7 App-based and conventional cab drivers held a protest at Jantar Mantar on Saturday, demanding multiple issues related to their welfare and the regulation of the sector.
Taxi drivers' unions also announced a one-day strike on February 23.
Several of these unions, under the banner of the Rashtriya Driver Sanyukta Morcha Samiti and the All Delhi Auto Taxi Congress Union, participated in the protest, raising concerns over pricing, policy, and the use of private vehicles as taxis.
Kishan Verma, president of All Delhi Auto Taxi Congress Union, said, "We have a list of demands that we want to submit to Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari. There should be a Rashtriya Chalak Ayog (National Driver Commission) for the welfare of drivers, private bike taxis should be banned immediately across the country, and surge pricing on app-based platforms should be addressed."
He noted that although drivers do not benefit from surge pricing, people think they are making money.
Cab union organisations from Delhi, along with organisations from across the country, have announced that if their demands are not addressed within 15 days, they will observe a one-day symbolic strike on February 23, Verma added.
The protesters also demanded a ban on the use of private vehicles as taxis, alleging it was affecting the livelihoods of licensed drivers.