<p>Bengaluru: The success of effective last-mile connectivity in Bengaluru depends largely on affordable autos, and they are proving to be the weakest link in the city’s transport network.</p>.<p>People trying to get home from bus stands and metro stations after 8 pm are particularly vulnerable to exorbitant fare demands.</p>.<p>Applications such as Metro Mitra, intended to help Namma Metro users find short rides to and from the stations, have failed.</p>.<p>Drivers who routinely charge extra kicked up fights with those who had signed up for Metro Mitra, auto drivers said. A more recent app called Nagara for fare-by-meter autos is yet to make a mark.</p>.<p>Urban mobility expert Satya Arikutharam believes the entry of ride aggregators has resulted in manipulation. "An artificial shortage is created because supply is heavily manipulated and mismanaged. Additionally, app priorities are profit maximisation, not demand resolution. The respect for regulation had gone away,” he told DH.</p>.<p>The prepaid system has failed and street hailing is rare, he observes. “However, we now see an ideology shift among drivers, who feel that meter fares are better for everyone,” he said.</p>.<p>Aggregators provide a useful service though — connecting drivers to customers who may be nearby, but not at the exact same location.</p>.<p>Several cases are pending in the High Court, and transport officials say that is one reason they can’t intervene.</p>.Paradox of too many autos, too few rides.<p>Although the demand for a government-run app has been heard since 2022, nothing has materialised.</p>.<p>Rudramurthy of the Auto Rickshaw Drivers’ Union (ARDU) says talks with the government aren’t moving.</p>.<p>“We are pushing the Bengaluru Urban deputy commissioner to issue an order similar to the ones in Shivamogga and Dakshina Kannada, where base meter fares have been revised to Rs 40. A uniform increase across the state, to at least Rs 40 for 2 km, will eliminate the need for a separate app, and allow drivers to ply by the meter,” he says.</p>.<p>Priyanka Krishnan, research and programme associate, B.Mobile, the Bangalore Political Action Committee (B.PAC), calls for better regulation. “Fares need to be jointly agreed upon. Once they are revised, they need to be strictly enforced. The public, auto drivers, and the government need to come together,” she said.</p>.<p>Additionally, she highlighted the need for shared autos, as they can help more people take autos. They also reduce traffic and cut commute costs, she said.</p>
<p>Bengaluru: The success of effective last-mile connectivity in Bengaluru depends largely on affordable autos, and they are proving to be the weakest link in the city’s transport network.</p>.<p>People trying to get home from bus stands and metro stations after 8 pm are particularly vulnerable to exorbitant fare demands.</p>.<p>Applications such as Metro Mitra, intended to help Namma Metro users find short rides to and from the stations, have failed.</p>.<p>Drivers who routinely charge extra kicked up fights with those who had signed up for Metro Mitra, auto drivers said. A more recent app called Nagara for fare-by-meter autos is yet to make a mark.</p>.<p>Urban mobility expert Satya Arikutharam believes the entry of ride aggregators has resulted in manipulation. "An artificial shortage is created because supply is heavily manipulated and mismanaged. Additionally, app priorities are profit maximisation, not demand resolution. The respect for regulation had gone away,” he told DH.</p>.<p>The prepaid system has failed and street hailing is rare, he observes. “However, we now see an ideology shift among drivers, who feel that meter fares are better for everyone,” he said.</p>.<p>Aggregators provide a useful service though — connecting drivers to customers who may be nearby, but not at the exact same location.</p>.<p>Several cases are pending in the High Court, and transport officials say that is one reason they can’t intervene.</p>.Paradox of too many autos, too few rides.<p>Although the demand for a government-run app has been heard since 2022, nothing has materialised.</p>.<p>Rudramurthy of the Auto Rickshaw Drivers’ Union (ARDU) says talks with the government aren’t moving.</p>.<p>“We are pushing the Bengaluru Urban deputy commissioner to issue an order similar to the ones in Shivamogga and Dakshina Kannada, where base meter fares have been revised to Rs 40. A uniform increase across the state, to at least Rs 40 for 2 km, will eliminate the need for a separate app, and allow drivers to ply by the meter,” he says.</p>.<p>Priyanka Krishnan, research and programme associate, B.Mobile, the Bangalore Political Action Committee (B.PAC), calls for better regulation. “Fares need to be jointly agreed upon. Once they are revised, they need to be strictly enforced. The public, auto drivers, and the government need to come together,” she said.</p>.<p>Additionally, she highlighted the need for shared autos, as they can help more people take autos. They also reduce traffic and cut commute costs, she said.</p>