Overview

• Hundreds of app-based taxi, auto and rickshaw drivers gathered at Azad Maidan on September 30 to press demands including a fare hike.
• Protesters came from multiple Maharashtra cities and the action was led by Keshav Nana Kshirsagar of the Maharashtra Gig Kamgar Manch.
• Unions are seeking fare parity with metered Black & Yellow cabs, a prohibition on bike taxis and a cap on taxi and auto permits.
• Assistant transport commissioner Bharat Kalaskar previously ordered aggregators to apply government fares on their apps until separate rates are decided, which unions say has not happened.
• Organizers alleged the transport department issued provisional e‑bike taxi licences to aggregators soon after FIRs over illegal bike‑taxi operations, a claim not independently verified in the reports.