Hundreds of app cab drivers logged out of their platforms on Tuesday to protest an alleged insult, forcing commuters to get off their cars and leaving many more harassed.
With the cab count remaining relatively low, many office-goers had to take alternative modes of transportation and others had to wait for longer periods to have their bookings confirmed.
The trigger for the protest was alleged misbehaviour a driver on the Uber platform faced at the hands of officials of the company when he called on them on Monday afternoon to know why his ID had been blocked.
According to a section of Uber drivers, the officials said the driver’s ID was blocked because he had created a duplicate ID.
But when the driver wanted to see the duplicate ID, the officials apparently couldn't produce it. Instead, the driver was allegedly pushed out of the office.
“The driver was asked to get out. When he refused, the company staff engaged two bouncers to drag him out of the office,” said a driver, who did not want to reveal his identity.
“When some 30 of us gathered and demanded to see the duplicate ID, the driver’s ID was reactivated and he was allowed to drive.”
A spokesperson for Uber said: “At Uber, there are various ways in which drivers can reach us in case they face any issue, including our on-ground driver support centres. The said case was resolved within a few hours of the driver’s visit to the centre after due internal procedures and the same was communicated to him.”
To protest the alleged misbehaviour, drivers who are members of the West Bengal Online Cab-operators Guild decided to boycott the Ola and Uber platforms on Tuesday.
At Netaji Nagar, Tollygunge and the Ruby crossing on EM Bypass, lathi-wielding drivers trooped on the streets and stopped app cabs ferrying passengers.
The passengers were asked to get off and book another ride, while the drivers were told to join the protest and stay off the platform for the day.
In the afternoon, hundreds of app cab drivers gathered outside the Howrah station complex and allegedly forced passengers who had boarded cabs to get off and make fresh bookings.
“The drivers wanted to rise in protest on their own saying the behaviour of the company staff with one of their colleagues on Monday had hurt their sentiments,” said Indranil Banerjee, secretary of the Cab-operators Guild.
“We tried to intervene wherever there were attempts to stop cabs and force passengers out.”
