India, July 18 -- The ongoing indefinite protest by Gig workers at Azad Maidan in Mumbai has begun to affect passengers across Maharashtra, particularly in Pune. For the past two days, autorickshaw and cab drivers affiliated with various gig worker unions have joined the agitation, demanding regulation of fare structures and licensing for app-based aggregators like Ola, Uber, and Rapido. Several drivers from Pune have also joined the protest, resulting in a noticeable shortage of rickshaws and cabs at key transit hubs across the city, including Pune Railway Station, Swargate, and Wakdewadi ST depot.

Taking advantage of the situation, other unaffiliated drivers have reportedly started overcharging passengers. Many commuters have raised co...