📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Aman Gupta
Automobile
Bhopal Cab Drivers Strike Over Bike‑Taxi Competition and Falling Fares
✍️ Free Press Journal
🗓 20 Aug 2026, 06:35 AM
👁 3
Cab operators in Bhopal have launched a strike, protesting the surge of bike‑taxi services and recent fare cuts by online aggregators such as Ola and Uber.
Local taxi unions in Bhopal organised a city‑wide strike on Monday, demanding an end to the aggressive pricing policies of ride‑hailing platforms. Drivers allege that the introduction of low‑cost bike‑taxi options and reduced fare structures by aggregators have eroded their earnings and created an uneven playing field.
Protesters gathered at major pick‑up points, including the central bus depot and the city’s main market, blocking access for both bike‑taxis and app‑based cars. They called for the reinstatement of previous fare rates and for the state transport authority to regulate the entry of bike‑taxi operators.
Representatives of the taxi community also criticised Ola and Uber for what they described as “unfair competition” that favours smaller, motor‑bike vehicles over traditional four‑wheel cabs. The aggregators have not issued an official response as of the time of reporting.
Bhopal’s municipal officials said they are monitoring the situation and have urged both parties to resolve the dispute through dialogue, warning that prolonged disruptions could affect commuters across the city.
Protesters gathered at major pick‑up points, including the central bus depot and the city’s main market, blocking access for both bike‑taxis and app‑based cars. They called for the reinstatement of previous fare rates and for the state transport authority to regulate the entry of bike‑taxi operators.
Representatives of the taxi community also criticised Ola and Uber for what they described as “unfair competition” that favours smaller, motor‑bike vehicles over traditional four‑wheel cabs. The aggregators have not issued an official response as of the time of reporting.
Bhopal’s municipal officials said they are monitoring the situation and have urged both parties to resolve the dispute through dialogue, warning that prolonged disruptions could affect commuters across the city.