Mumbai Monsoon Leaves App-Based Cab Drivers Facing Losses And Vehicle Damage

App-based cab drivers in Mumbai are facing severe financial losses, vehicle damage, and rising repair costs this monsoon season, with heavy traffic and waterlogging bringing key stretches like LBS Road to a crawl. While commuters frequently rush to book cabs to avoid getting stranded during heavy downpours, drivers report that the reality of operating in these conditions is highly unprofitable.

The combination of traffic congestion, waterlogged streets, and damaged roads has significantly reduced daily earnings for these drivers. At the same time, operating in these conditions has driven up their expenses for fuel and vehicle repairs, largely due to the city's crumbling infrastructure.

Mohsin Sheikh, who has driven an app-based cab in Mumbai for several years, explained that the public perception of their earnings during the rainy season is incorrect. Sheikh noted that while people assume drivers earn more because of the increased demand during the monsoon, the actual reality is exactly the opposite. He stated that the primary challenge for drivers is not the rain itself, but the poor state of the city's infrastructure.

On Saturday, continuous heavy rainfall brought traffic to a crawl on LBS Road, highlighting the daily struggles faced by drivers navigating the waterlogged streets. The slow-moving traffic forces drivers to spend more time on individual trips, which increases fuel consumption while limiting the number of rides they can complete in a day.

Additionally, the poor road conditions and potholes cause frequent damage to the vehicles, forcing drivers to pay for expensive repairs out of their own pockets. This double impact of reduced income and rising maintenance costs has made the monsoon a season of mounting losses for Mumbai's app-based cab drivers rather than an opportunity for increased business.