Cab drivers seek withdrawal of strike ban at Bhogapuram airport

Visakha Taxi Drivers Association and Center of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) demanded immediate withdrawal of GO Rt. No. 12, in which the state government declared app-based taxi aggregators, radio taxis and other taxi services operating at the upcoming Bhogapuram International Airport as essential services and banned strikes for six months from June 5 to December 4, 2026. 330.

Addressing a general body meeting of taxi drivers at Visakhapatnam Airport on Friday, B. Jagan, honorary president of the union, alleged that the order violated workers’ constitutional right to protest and go on strike. He said it was undemocratic to invoke the Essential Services Maintenance Act to suppress labor movements.

The union demanded that taxi fares should be revised in line with the increase in petrol, diesel and CNG prices, radar trips should be abolished, local offices should be opened by Ola, Uber and Rapido in Visakhapatnam and minimum income should be guaranteed to drivers.

It also called on the government to formulate rules under the Motor Vehicles Act in consultation with drivers and workers’ organisations, alleging that repeated representations to ministers and officials were ignored.

Warning against intensifying protests, the union said it will organize a bandh and launch an agitation by taxi drivers if the government does not withdraw the GO, notify the Motor Vehicles Act rules and address the grievances of app-based taxi drivers.