KOCHI: The tug of war between traditional taxi operators and the upcoming app-based operators is all set to intensify with the Kerala State Motor Transport Workers Coordination committee deciding to hold a march before the commissioner of police in Kochi on Thursday.
The march is part of a series of agitations planned by the committee representing 10 unions working in the area.
The operation of the app-based taxi services in the state was illegal and these services were not following the rates fixed by the government, leaders of the 10 unions told reporters here on Tuesday.
“Our charges are fixed based on the recommendations of the Justice Ramachandran Commission appointed by the state government. The Commission has fixed a minimum price of Rs 150 for taxi services and Rs 20 for three wheeler autos”, they said.
The app-based taxi operated by multi-national companies such as Uber was not following any such norms. “They are undercutting rates as part of a well planned to strategy to monopolize the market”, the union leaders said.
The action of these operators was threatening the livelihood of nearly 100,000 taxi and auto workers in the city, they alleged.
The leaders also denied reports that the traditional taxi operators were indulging in physical attacks against online taxi operators.
“It is false propaganda by the online operators”, they said. But, they said isolated incidents of attacks may have taken place.
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