Bengaluru: A committee formed by the transport department to determine taxi fares has suggested a minimum fare of Rs 10 for non-AC cabs and Rs 12 for AC cabs, Transport Commissioner M.K. Aiyappa told Decccan Chronicle. “The government has to approve the notification. If they do, cabs will be obligated to follow the minimum fare and we will book cases against those who don't," he said.
Throughout weeks of protest by cab drivers against Ola and Uber, the Transport Department claimed the dispute was between the employee and the employer and also cited a stay by the Karnataka High Court not to intervene. The cab companies now do not have an upper cap on the fares and with their surge pricing policy, customers end up paying double, triple or more the normal fare during rush hours.
Ola and Uber did not respond to Deccan Chronicle queries on the fares suggested by the Transport Department. Mr Kiran Gowda, state president, Karunada Rajya Taxi Owners and Drivers Association, said, “The minimum fare recommended will benefit drivers. Since, Ola, Uber and the government did not concede to the driver's demands, we are launching the 'Taxi For Ride' app from June. We will follow the minimum fare set by the government and also have no surge pricing." Mr Kumaraswamy too is launching ‘HDK Cabs’ soon.
