BlueSmart’s abrupt shutdown has left thousands of drivers jobless and without pay, as financial irregularities in its sister firm Jensol Engineering cast a shadow over the EV cab aggregator. With no legal recourse or compensation, the drivers are now taking to the streets in protest.
A Silent Shutdown, A Roaring Backlash
Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, and Bengaluru usually bustling with BlueSmart’s silent electric vehicles — are now witnessing a different kind of noise. Thousands of drivers have taken to the streets in protest after BlueSmart, India’s electric vehicle-based ride-hailing company, suddenly halted operations without notice. The abrupt decision left drivers unpaid, unsupported, and unemployed.
The outrage has been palpable. “We built this company,” says a driver echoing the sentiments of many. “Why are we the ones left to suffer?” According to several drivers, there was no official communication. Just a message stating that vehicles were being “audited” at company hubs and then, silence.
Among the most impacted are the company’s 300+ women drivers in Delhi, many of whom now face near-insurmountable odds securing alternate employment. “Other platforms rarely hire women,” said 21-year-old driver “We were just told to bring the cars in. That’s it. No explanation, no help.”
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The Gensol Connection: A Crumbling Corporate Web
BlueSmart’s troubles appear closely tied to the financial implosion of Gensol Engineering a company run by the same founders, Anmol Singh Jaggi and Puneet Singh Jaggi. Jensol, involved in solar energy and EV leasing, has been under scrutiny for alleged financial irregularities. Investigations are ongoing into accusations of fund misappropriation, which may have triggered a liquidity crisis.
Jensol’s stock performance reflects the turmoil. Once valued at a high of ₹1,126, the shares now hover at a mere ₹75, hitting 5% lower circuits consistently over the past few days. The collapse has sent ripples through affiliated businesses with BlueSmart now being the most visibly affected.
Analysts suspect the same capital crunch that brought Jensol down may have led to BlueSmart’s sudden operational freeze. Without adequate financial backing, maintaining the large EV fleet and paying drivers became unsustainable.
Voices from the Street: A Call for Legal Protections
At the heart of this crisis are the drivers the gig workers who powered BlueSmart’s fleet but were never treated as core stakeholders. “They’ve just left us,” said organizing secretary of the Gig Workers Association. “No pay, no support, no clarity. This is nothing short of exploitation.”
Das emphasized the need for stronger legal frameworks to protect gig workers from such corporate abandonment. “They deserve compensation, clarity, and dignity. The fact that they can be discarded like this highlights a serious gap in India’s labor laws.”
India’s gig economy, while rapidly expanding, remains largely unregulated in terms of worker rights and protections. This episode, advocates argue, underscores the urgency for government intervention and legal reforms.
The Road Ahead: Questions, Protests, and Uncertainty
As protests continue across major cities, drivers demand not just their due wages but a public investigation into BlueSmart’s finances and the role of its founders. Some are demanding re-employment support or alternate arrangements.
For now, the electric cabs have stopped, but the struggle is very much alive on the streets, in WhatsApp groups, and outside corporate hubs.