Uber and rival Ola are experiencing service disruptions in Mumbai and Delhi, as driver partners are participating in a strike to protest falling incomes and incentives. If you're leaning on booking a cab via these apps for something urgent or important, it's better to keep a better commuting option as a backup. 

The protest has led to a shortage of aggregator cabs in parts of the city and a dynamic surge pricing has increased existing fares up to three times. 

The primary reason for the protest is diminishing income for the driver partners amid rising fuel costs. Automotive fuel in the country has been on a steady rise since the last six months and has increased by 20 per cent. 

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Fuel is a core factor in this business, and the fares being charged to the end consumer remain the same. Hence, cab aggregation companies have cut down on incentives, and the direct income being earned has also drastically lowered. 

“An Ola or Uber driver is now earning only Rs 4.30 per km compared with Rs 15-20 per km a few years ago. Driver incentives have also fallen by 80% since 2016,” said Anand Kunte, advisor of Maharashtra Rajya Rashtriya Kamgar Sangh to the Economic Times. 

My @Uber_Delhi driver was extremely articulate. He asked me what I knew about their economics. Then he explained: "Uber/Ola take 60% of what you pay. Uber charges you over Rs 10/km, gives me 6.40 less 20%. My fuel expenses are 3.50 / km. I'm left with less than 1.70/km." 2/4

The drivers have staged a protest outside Uber's office in Mumbai with placards saying “Uber go back” and “Ola is the biggest thief”. The strike in Delhi is even more tense thanks to the closure of many petrol stations, who themselves are protesting rising fuel prices. 

Drivers have complained that even after driving for 16-17 hours every day, they take home a paltry amount that is insufficient to run a family of three. A lot of these partners have also acquired cars on loans and need to pay off EMI instalments. 

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While there are many drivers who don't want to participate in the protest, the local unions and communities are making sure that no cabs ply on the road, to prove that a majority of the partners are agitated. 

Uber said in a statement: "We regret the disruption caused to our rider and driver-partner community, due to a small group of individuals." It is committed to ensuring that drivers "continue to access a stable income", it added.