KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Unions representing gig workers on app-based ride-hailing platforms, including Ola, Uber and Rapido, have called a nationwide strike dubbed the “All India Breakdown” on Saturday, 07 February, with drivers set to log off for approximately six hours.
- Led by the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union, the action presses for notified minimum base fares, a ban on private vehicles being used for commercial ride-hailing, and improved wage transparency, safety and grievance protections.
- Disruption is expected to be most visible in metro city centres, IT corridors, and around airports and railway stations in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad and Kolkata, with the six-hour window likely overlapping Saturday’s typical peak demand periods (1200–1500 and 1700–2100 hours).
- States with lower app-based taxi dependence, including Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, the northeastern states, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and parts of rural Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, are expected to see limited impact.
- Organisations with time-sensitive travel, client visits or shift-based staffing should plan alternative transport arrangements in advance.
App-based ride-hailing services across India face a coordinated, time-bound strike on Saturday, 07 February. Here is what’s driving it, where the disruption is likely to be felt most, and how to plan around it.
What is the 07 February gig worker strike and why is it happening?
A group of unions representing gig workers on app-based ride-hailing platforms, including Ola, Uber and Rapido, have called for a nationwide strike on 07 February, described as the “All India Breakdown.” App-based transport workers will go offline for approximately six hours to press for regulatory intervention on fare structures and working conditions. The movement is led by the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union, which argues that despite the introduction of the Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines, 2025, ride-hailing platforms continue to fix fares arbitrarily. The strike has been announced as a time-bound, offline action rather than an indefinite shutdown, but intermittent disruption to app-based taxi availability and last-mile connectivity is still expected across multiple urban centres during the protest window.
What are the unions demanding?
The unions’ core demands include immediate notification and enforcement of minimum base fares to prevent arbitrary fare-setting by platforms, and a ban on using private, non-commercial vehicles for app-based ride-hailing, which they say violates regulations and creates unfair competition. Workers are also seeking transparent wage structures that reflect actual working hours, fuel costs, vehicle maintenance and platform commissions; an end to arbitrary account deactivations and ID blocks imposed without notice or grievance redress; improved safety measures and comprehensive accident insurance; fair, non-discriminatory algorithmic work allocation; and respectful treatment from platforms and customers, including safeguards against harassment and unjust ratings-based penalties.
Which cities and areas will see the most disruption?
Disruption is likely to be most visible in metro city centres including Central Delhi, South Mumbai (including Bandra-Kurla Complex), Central and East Bengaluru, Central Chennai, Banjara Hills and HITEC City in Hyderabad, and Salt Lake and Central Kolkata. IT corridors and tech hubs are also flagged, including Bengaluru’s Outer Ring Road, Whitefield and Electronic City; Hyderabad’s HITEC City-Gachibowli belt; Pune’s Hinjewadi; the Noida-Greater Noida Expressway and Gurugram’s Cyber City. Airport access routes serving Delhi, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai and Kolkata may see reduced ride availability, as may last-mile connectivity around major railway stations such as New Delhi Railway Station, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, KSR Bengaluru and Howrah. Tier-1 and Tier-2 cities including Pune, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Chandigarh, Kochi and Lucknow may see intermittent disruption depending on local participation. States with lower app-based taxi dependence — Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, the northeastern states, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and parts of rural Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh — are expected to see comparatively limited impact.
How long will the strike last, and what about spillover effects?
Organisers have not specified uniform start and end times across all states, and participation is expected to vary by city, but the roughly six-hour offline window falls on a Saturday, when ride demand typically peaks between 1200–1500 and 1700–2100 hours for discretionary travel, shopping, social activity and airport movements — overlapping with the anticipated strike period and likely making disruption more noticeable during those windows. Although the strike itself is time-bound, secondary effects may extend beyond the six hours in major metros, including longer wait times, delayed commutes and increased congestion on alternate transport as services gradually normalise, with possible spillover into airport-bound travel, evening return journeys and late-shift workforce movements if driver availability doesn’t immediately bounce back.
What should businesses and individuals do to prepare?
Organisations are advised to plan employee commutes well in advance, prioritise critical roles and review shift allocations for 07 February, arrange alternative transport where physical presence is required, and build in additional buffer time. Businesses with frequent airport travel should reassess schedules and offer early-departure guidance, monitor local traffic and platform notifications for real-time updates, and consider a post-strike review to strengthen business continuity planning for similar future events. Individuals are advised to avoid relying solely on app-based taxis on 07 February, plan alternate commuting via metro rail, state buses, auto-rickshaws, car-pooling or personal vehicles, depart earlier than usual for time-sensitive or airport travel, avoid peak commuting hours where possible, and reschedule appointments at transport department offices, which could see protest activity.
Frequently asked questions
Will app-based taxis be completely unavailable on 07 February?
Not necessarily everywhere. The strike is a time-bound, roughly six-hour offline action with participation expected to vary by city and region, so availability will depend on local participation levels rather than a uniform nationwide shutdown.
Which cities are expected to see less disruption?
States and regions with lower dependence on app-based taxis — including Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, the northeastern states, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and parts of rural Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh — are expected to see comparatively limited impact.
What time of day will disruption be worst?
Disruption is likely to be most noticeable during Saturday’s typical peak ride-demand windows of 1200–1500 and 1700–2100 hours, which overlap with the strike’s expected timing.
Download the full advisory now
MitKat’s Special Advisory on the Nationwide Strike by Gig Workers in India carries the complete list of affected hotspots, a full recommendations checklist for organisations and individuals, and a directory of city-wise police and traffic emergency contacts. Download the full advisory now to brief your travel and continuity teams.
Filed under: India-South AsiaThreat Intelligence Special Reports
