Patna: A third consecutive hike in fuel prices within a month pushed petrol prices to Rs 111 per litre in the state capital on Saturday, intensifying financial stress among nearly 4,000 cab drivers associated with aggregator platforms in Patna.Operating under the Patna cab drivers union, a wing of the Indian National Trade Union Congress (Intuc), the drivers alleged that fare structures have steadily declined over the past decade despite rising fuel and maintenance costs, pushing many towards a financial crisis. They said drivers are forced to bear most operational expenses, including fuel, maintenance and platform-related charges, which are rapidly eroding daily earnings.Ramanand Pathak, a cab driver from Darbhanga who has been working in Patna for the past five years, said his financial liabilities had sharply increased in recent years. Despite holding an Economics Honours degree, he said he was compelled to drive a cab due to a lack of employment opportunities elsewhere.“My house rent is Rs 7,000, school fees for my children cost almost Rs 5,000, and my monthly car EMI is Rs 15,000. This, along with maintenance and refuelling expenses, far outweighs my income,” Pathak said.Dhananjay Singh, president of the Patna cab drivers union, said drivers earn nearly Rs 1,500 daily from the three major aggregator platforms, but most of the amount is consumed by operational costs.“Summers require constant air conditioning, consuming 30% extra fuel, yet summer and winter rates remain the same,” Dhananjay said.“With an oversupply of cabs and fewer bookings, companies no longer take a commission but demand mandatory platform fees. We will give companies an ultimatum to increase rates to Rs 30 per kilometre — which was the rate several years back — or ask the Bihar govt to blacklist these private entities and launch a state-run company for local drivers,” he added.Dhananjay further alleged that companies frequently block driver IDs solely on passenger complaints, while city fares often fall to as low as Rs 9 per kilometre without any fixed minimum rate.Anil Kumar Dwivedi, convener of the union, said aggregator firms completely ignore vehicle maintenance and depreciation costs.“The platform recharge is a permanent source of income for companies, but not for drivers,” Dwivedi said.Chief patron Chandraprakash Singh demanded govt intervention to regulate fares and introduce welfare measures.“We want the state govt to step in and decide a minimum rate per kilometre below which aggregators cannot charge, and implement social security provisions for the drivers,” Chandraprakash said.
