Hyderabad: With some cab companies introducing fluid charges depending on the timings and traffic position, people are finding it difficult to make bookings.
On the other hand drivers are in huge demand at cab companies given the demand from customers which is filling up all slots.
After some leading cab companies introduced peak time charges the lesser known cab companies too have started increasing charges citing non-availability of cabs.
Meanwhile, many cab drivers are making full use of the opportunity and are registering with multiple cab companies. This can lead to reduced accountability among cab drivers.
“Initially cab companies used to give a good per day commission but after the popularity of cabs sky rocketed, the commissions were cut substantially. Many drivers like me who have their own vehicles therefore joined two to three companies using different mobile numbers as it keeps the per day commissions good. We are expected to take a specific number of bookings every day for getting the commissions,” said cab driver Harish Sai.
Cab companies now operate as call centres connecting potential passengers and registered drivers and concentrate on profitable routes.
“These days connecting us to short distance travellers have come down. Only long distance routes especially those connecting the airport are given preference as airport charges are usually higher. Seeing this all companies have hiked charges by 5 to 10 per cent to encash demand,” added the driver.
The popularity of cabs had initially skyrocketed in the city after introduction of short distance packages and people had taken to small distance journeys by cabs very well.
However, with the increase in demand, cabs are no longer showing availability for short distance trips or even if they show availability the charges will be two to four times that of actual rates.
“I have been quoted two to five times extra when I tried to book Ola or Taxi for Sure cabs during the past couple of weeks, even when an available cab was just three minutes away. Peak hour charges are being charged at 1.30 pm and 3 pm as well,” said Varalakshmi P., a frequent customer of cab services.
