Patna: With temperatures soaring and fares falling, cab drivers in Patna have decided to charge passengers extra for using air-conditioning, launching a ‘No AC without Extra Pay’ campaign on Saturday. The protest highlights growing frustration over reduced earnings and rising operational costs, particularly as summer intensifies.
Drivers affiliated with platforms like Ola and Uber say that fare structures no longer account for the added expense of running AC. “Cab services are becoming loss-making,” said Anil Dwivedi, patron of the Patna Cab Driver Union (INTUC). “The companies have slashed fares and scrapped minimum booking amounts, but expenses have only increased.”
Currently, the minimum booking fare is Rs 45, with GST and company commissions taking up nearly 30% of the total earnings, drivers say. In this scenario, they argue, running the AC means incurring further losses.
“ACs will only be switched on if passengers agree to pay extra,” said Dhananjay Singh, the union’s president. “With fuel prices high and temperatures rising, our costs are climbing fast. The companies are ignoring our concerns.”
Drivers say companies like Uber previously offered a minimum fare of Rs 100 before calculating distance-based charges, but this too has been altered. Some platforms have removed the base fare entirely.
Driver Shashikant pointed out the diminishing profits: “I received Rs 72 for a 4.5 km ride. After deductions, what’s left for us? If the passenger wants AC, they should be ready to pay for it.”
The move marks a growing pushback by gig workers demanding fair compensation in an increasingly competitive and cost-sensitive industry.
