Mangaluru, Oct 31, 2015 : : The office of the Ola Online Taxi Service located at Manasa Towers, MG Road in the city was locked up by protesting drivers affiliated to the Online Taxi Owners and Drivers Association on October 30, Friday opposing the hike in rates by the firm. Over 40 office bearers and members of the Association participated in the protest.
According the protestors, Ola has revised its rates which stands at Rs 49 per every 2 km per trip, out of which the driver has to pay 15 per cent as Commission to Ola. They also pointed out that as per the three year agreement signed upon earlier, Ola had agreed to pay Rs 32,000 for 3000 kms in case of mini taxis and Rs 8 per km in case the distance covered exceeded 3000 kms. Ola had even promised Rs 36000 for 3000 kms in case of sedan cars and Rs 9 per km if the distance covered exceeded 3000 kms.
The Association states that the revised rates were in no way beneficial to the drivers and was only incurring losses to them.
Sadique Kannur, General Secretary of the Association said they decided to lock up the Ola office as the company representative Suraj Karkera who assured to meet the drivers on Friday after a meeting in Bengaluru was not at office and was also not reachable on his cell phone.