Mumbai’s never-ending road construction and heavy traffic are causing major problems for commuters, often leading to missed flights. To address this, Uber has introduced a special insurance plan called ‘Missed Flight Connection Cover’

Passengers can get up to ₹7,500 in compensation for missed flights due to traffic delays by paying just ₹3 extra per ride. Launched in partnership with Reliance General Insurance in February, this cover applies to both domestic and international flights and also includes medical expense coverage in case of an accident.

With over 701 km of roads under construction, Mumbai’s traffic has worsened, forcing the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to pause new digging projects to ease congestion. The delays have made life difficult for cab drivers, leading to late arrivals, frustrated passengers, and even incidents of road rage.

How the insurance works

The insurance is applicable only when the ride is booked to the airport. To be eligible, the estimated arrival time (ETA) must be between 90 and 120 minutes before the flight. If a delay causes a passenger to miss their flight, they can claim compensation by submitting the required documents, including their flight ticket, booking details, and a no-travel confirmation from the airline.

Why Uber introduced this insurance

Many cab drivers under the Maharashtra Rajya Rashtriya Kamgar Sangh (MRRKS) have been hesitant to take airport trips due to unpredictable delays. Frustrated passengers often blame them when they fail to reach the airport on time, sometimes leading to verbal abuse.

According to Hindustan Times, Anand Kute from MRRKS explained that while the Uber app might show an estimated arrival time of 2-3 minutes, traffic congestion often extends it to 8-10 minutes, making passengers impatient and drivers anxious. This growing frustration pushed Uber to introduce the ‘Missed Flight Connection Cover’ to offer passengers some relief and support drivers in managing delays.

Difficulty faced by drivers 

Frustrated with low fares and high commission rates (25-30%), Uber and Ola drivers in Mumbai staged a flash strike at Mumbai Airport on Tuesday from 5 PM to 9 PM. Many drivers complained that apart from bad roads affecting their earnings, Uber’s pricing policies are making it even harder for them to sustain themselves.

Meanwhile, Mumbaikars are expressing their anger over the city’s never-ending road repairs on social media. One Instagram user sarcastically urged the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to name a final price to fix the roads, saying, “Just take that full and final amount from taxpayers and give us our city back!”

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