Taxi and auto drivers have welcomed Union Minister Amit Shah’s announcement of a new cooperative-run ride-hailing service, ‘Sahkar,’ which aims to provide an alternative to private platforms like Ola and Uber. Drivers’ unions have expressed support for the initiative, emphasizing the need for drivers to become stakeholders rather than just service providers.
Workers’ associations have urged the government to ensure that the announcement materializes quickly rather than remaining a policy on paper. They pointed out that a similar initiative had been proposed in Tamil Nadu, where the state government was urged to launch its own app using funds from the Tamil Nadu Drivers and Automobile Workshop Workers Welfare Board. Although the app has reportedly been developed, its launch has been delayed.
The Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (CUMTA) has been entrusted with the development of the state-run ride-hailing app and has conducted consultations with drivers’ unions. Drivers have long demanded an alternative platform where earnings would go directly to them, citing concerns over hidden charges imposed by private ride-hailing companies.
Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu Transport Department has confirmed that CUMTA is working on a composite app that will integrate multiple transport services, including MTC buses, Chennai Metro, EMU, and MRTS. The ride-hailing service is expected to be part of this broader platform, with ongoing consultations to ensure its alignment with drivers’ needs.
(With inputs from DT Next)
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