The Odisha Online Drivers’ United Forum has announced a 12‑hour statewide bandh on Monday, demanding stricter regulation of online taxi companies and fair treatment for drivers.
The protest, supported by 21 organisations, is expected to hit services hard in Kataka, Bhubaneswar, and other districts.
The forum has urged the government to either ban online aggregators like Ola, Uber, Rapido, and Odisha Yatiri or enforce fixed fare ranges jointly set by the state and companies. Drivers insist that discounts offered to customers should be borne by companies, not deducted from their earnings.
Among the key demands are:
- Unblocking of suspended driver accounts without inquiry and an end to arbitrary fines.
- Waiting charges for delays caused by customers or traffic jams.
- Cancellation fees to be passed entirely to drivers when rides are cancelled after travel begins.
- Mandatory physical offices for all app‑based operators in Odisha.
- Restrictions on new vehicle attachments to balance demand and supply.
The bandh aims to pressure both the state government and online taxi firms to address long‑standing grievances. With thousands of commuters relying on app‑based cabs daily, the shutdown is expected to cause significant disruption across urban centres.
