Act against overcharging autorickshaw drivers in city, minister directs transport commissioner

Bengaluru: Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy on Saturday wrote to the transport commissioner, urging immediate strict action against autorickshaw drivers and ride aggregator platforms charging fares above government-fixed rates in Bengaluru.

Since the bike taxi ban on June 16, city residents have complained about rising auto fares. Online auto rides have been 20%-30% costlier than the meter fare — Rs 30 for the first 1.9 km, and Rs 15 for every additional kilometre.

In his letter, the minister cited instances from June 18, where an auto on the Rapido app charged Rs 100.89 per km, while another app charged Rs 184.19 for a four-km trip. He termed this "daylight robbery". The letter included screenshots of overcharging cases shared by the public.

As per Rapido's fare breakdown, it follows the meter fare, adds a Rs 20 'pick up' charge, and applies surge pricing based on demand.

"If passengers complain about high fares, or if drivers cancel rides when higher fares are not paid, immediate action must be taken. Permits should be cancelled, and cases registered," the letter stated.

Transport Commissioner Yogeesh AM has called a meeting on Sunday to address the issue. "We will investigate whether these are isolated cases. Auto fares for over 100 rides will be checked and compared against the meter fare, including platform service fees," he told DH.