Chandigarh Taxi Union Enters Day 90 of Protest Against Ride-Hailing Firms

For three months, the Chandigarh Taxi Union has occupied the streets, challenging the dominance of ride-hailing giants like Ola, Uber, and Rapido. Union president Amandeep Singh says the protest is a last-ditch effort to force compliance with government-mandated fare structures and neglected social security benefits for drivers.

Editorial·August 29, 2026·reads: 1,600

Chandigarh Taxi Union Enters Day 90 of Protest Against Ride-Hailing Firms

Drivers argue that the platforms routinely bypass the state's June 6, 2025, aggregator policy, which guarantees Rs 6 lakh in medical insurance and Rs 10 lakh in term insurance. Beyond these protections, the union is demanding a strict ban on the use of private vehicles for commercial ride-sharing. While the union has organized eleven strikes over the last fifteen months, they have only secured the suspension of two company licenses, fueling their resolve to continue the current 90-day standoff.

This localized struggle reflects a broader, nationwide friction between traditional transport operators and app-based platforms. Similar unrest recently paralyzed transport in Delhi-NCR, where the Chalak Shakti Union demanded fare revisions that have stagnated for 15 years. With fuel costs and vehicle maintenance expenses rising, drivers across the region are signaling that the existing economic model for app-based mobility is no longer sustainable for those behind the wheel.