Bengaluru: After years of being robbed blind by errant auto drivers, Bengaluru welcomed the advent of private cab services with high hopes. When Ola, Uber, Taxi For Sure and Meru finally arrived, it seemed as transport woes had come to an end. However, with no regulations to keep these private companies in check, cab fares have skyrocketed due to overwhelming demand.
Although fares look good on paper, with Ola Cabs, for instance, projecting prices lower than autos, commuters deal with a number of hidden charges, including the peak time fare which is now as high as twice the meter! While private companies do have the liberty of setting their own rates, the transport demand has explicitly banned hidden charges in an attempt to regulate taxi fares.
Companies have their own ways, however, of exploiting demand. For instance, the minis, the cheapest options, are rarely made available, so customers are forced to opt for a premium car. In some cases, cab drivers simply don't show up after they find out the drop location and complaints result in apologies, but no cab!
“I end up paying 1.5 times the meter to Ola on a normal day at noon, without much traffic,” said Vipul Thakkar, a Bengaluru resident. “They claim it’s a peak time surcharge and while it was Rs 50 earlier, they are changing it at random now, because of demand,” he added.
According to Shweta Goel, “Apart from charging more during peak hours, I’ve had no shows on three occasions - once with Ola and twice with Meru Genie. The driver calls, finds out my location and doesn't turn up. His phone is not reachable and the call centre has no idea what’s happening.” Peak hours also appear to be highly changeable – “I got charged a peak time fare of 30 per cent at 2 pm,” said Crysel Britto. “The confirmation SMS said it is applicable between 7 am and 10 am and 5 pm and 10 pm,” she added.
Even so, a number of people agree that a private operator can fix its own rates. The Transport Department, on its part, plans to crack down heavily on this peak time surcharge. Rame Gowda, Commissioner, Transport, said, “We have raided their offices and told them not to include hidden charges. However, we are waiting for a week until we get the final notification from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.”
