For those of you, who are scratching their heads as to "is this even a word" or maybe just for the sake of making the title attractive it has been made up, so OLA guys( which means hellođź‘‹)! UBER is really a word which has a meaning. It means "supreme"or "best", "beyond etc etc. But I made up that word adding suffix to UBER. Travelling to or being in a new place is anyway daunting for someone who is going alone for the first time.These app-based taxis have made it so convenient that with less than a minute you are seated comfortably in an AC car.Getting a chauffeur driven car just at your footstep is a relief. You don't have talk to some random person for half and hour giving directions when even you are new to a place. The fares are so reasonable that you no longer have to bargain for some 20 bucks on the streets, with hundred eyes staring at you! Especially for women, it comes as a safe option because the details of the driver are on your phone and you can easily share you location with anyone back at home. Don;t worry, they aren't paying me anything to promote their services. It is purely on personal experience.
But as they say, nothing good in this world comes for free. Recently the news of the uber and the ola drivers calling off strikes has flooded the newspapers and the internet. They are demanding insurance, increase in the minimum fare, better perks, security. This whole web of mobile taxis have become so vast that the companies are employing more drivers which in turn is becoming unfavorable for the ones already employed. They are even agitating about no fixed hours of service as most of these taxis are available 24*7. There was a hike in the fare as well as charging a base fare at a nominal rate seemed too low for the drivers. Where on one hand it is a blessing for the consumers, it is proving to be detrimental for the employees. Imagine the plight of the auto and the taxi drivers who were driving their own independent vehicles since ages when these app based taxis had not arrived. Earlier when you got off a bus, or train, or on the airport, these hundred auto drivers came running shouting for the customers and after a lot of bargain, you would settle down for the price that made you think, "Oh, i made a good deal". Today, the whole scenario has changed and while sitting in the bus,or train you can readily book a cab, get the details with the cab's number and nothing makes you happier seeing that random stranger waiting for your luxurious ride.
A business should be profitable for both customer and the one who renders his services. That's how a market runs smoothly when demand and supply are in consonance. If this scheme of price hikes, low wages, no incentives, continues then these convenient services might come to a halt and many would lose their jobs as well. The question remains that how could these companies continue to ensure to pay off well to their drivers while still charging less from the customers? Today maintaining a car is almost equal to keeping up with the demand of your girlfriend, asking for high servicing costs, fuel, computer based devices. This whole segment of private transport is too young to end soon. It is showing signs of non- sustainability if a rigid solution is not found. It has almost become a nightmare for these drivers because they are caught up in the fear of low wages, no compensation in case of unintentional damage and accidents etc. Moreover these drivers are hired on contract basis which means they can lose their job anytime.
With all these problems on the rise, the consumers are also jammed up in the whole process. Paying hire fare for short distances would make them take that old auto or taxi which they now avoid. It might turn out well for the other normal drivers who are trying hard to get customers everyday. It might bring those old times back where settling down for that bargained price is the only option!
