Clash between online cab aggregators and local drivers

With a string of start-ups and foreign cab aggregators permeating into the Indian transport space, many domestic players are left struggling to make ends meet.

Online cab aggregators like Ola and Uber provide customers with cheaper options and enables cab bookings simply through an app.

The cab booking platforms provide a better alternative to poor public transport, with many drivers shifting to aggregators.

Last week, an Uber driver was assaulted by local taxi drivers at the Trivandrum International Airport.

The taxi driver filed a case with the Valiyathura police, stating that he and his passenger was abused and harassed by a group of taxi drivers.

In the charges, the driver revealed that the others had manhandled the passenger when the passenger intervened.

Reports surfaced on the rising spell of attacks against drivers of online cab aggregators like Uber and Ola, by the local taxi and auto drivers.

Police have stated that they have received over ten cases of assaults in areas surrounding domestic and international airports, during the last four months.

These reports have not yet evoked an action against the drivers from the authorities.

Reports have claimed that over 1,000 taxi drivers are currently with online cab service providers.

The services for these platforms see the highest demand from passengers near airports and employees working at Technopark at Kazhakootam.

At Kazhakootam, it was reported that auto drivers launch the attacks on the cab drivers.

Police officials stated that despite the control measures, the threat still looms.