Pune: Gig Workers, Auto and Cab Drivers to Stage Massive Protest at Mumbai’s Azad Maidan on July 15

Mumbai, July 11, 2025:  Thousands of auto-rickshaw, cab drivers, and gig workers from across Maharashtra will gather at Azad Maidan, Mumbai, on July 15, 2025, to protest against the alleged inaction of the transport department and to demand stronger safety measures for platform-based workers.

The protest, led by workers associated with Swiggy, Zomato, Ola, Uber, Urban Company, and others, will also call for the implementation of the “Maharashtra Gig Workers Act” to safeguard their rights and interests.

The agitation is directed at the transport department’s failure to act against companies like Ola, Uber, and Rapido, which, according to the workers, continue to operate rickshaws, cabs, bike taxis, and now even buses illegally, as per a recent departmental letter.

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While transport officials claim that Rapido’s bike taxi services have been suspended, ground-level checks and viral screenshots indicate that these services continue unabated, even near the state ministry premises.

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Workers allege that despite violations such as surge pricing, exploitation of passengers, and non-compliance with Indian laws, no financial penalties have been imposed on these companies to date. They also criticised the central transport ministry’s “absurd” decision allowing Ola and Uber to charge double fares, calling it a move designed solely for the benefit of such illegal operators.

The protestors are also demanding the lifting of the ban on new rickshaw permits, which has been pending for six years, with the state and central governments blaming each other.

Thousands of gig workers and drivers from Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad will leave for Azad Maidan by cabs at 7 AM on July 15 to join the protest.

Dr. Keshav Kshirsagar, President of Bharatiya Gig Kamgar Manch, stated that the movement seeks to highlight the plight of gig workers and push for systemic reforms.

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