<p>Bengaluru: With online auto rides becoming even more expensive in Bengaluru following the bike taxi ban, clamour is growing for enforcing a May 2024 high court order that capped the fares. </p>.<p>Ever since bike taxis stopped operating on June 16, passengers have complained that online auto rides have become both costlier and scarce. </p>.<p>Online auto rides are 20-30% costlier than the meter fair, which is Rs 30 for the first 1.9 km and Rs 15 for every subsequent kilometre. </p>.‘Everyone wants cheaper transport’: Karnataka HC hears appeals against bike taxi ban.<p>Ride-hailing firms levy a surge fare, pick-up charge or platform fee, which they say should not be part of the fare nor regulated by authorities. </p>.<p>On May 27, 2024, the high court ruled that ride-hailing firms cannot charge more than 5% above the stipulated fares for auto rides in Bengaluru, upholding a 2022 notification of the Transport Department. It also restrained the aggregators from imposing surge pricing, stating that any such charges should benefit the permit holder/driver — not the aggregator. </p>.<p>Bangalore MP, PC Mohan, joined the issue on Tuesday, questioning why the state government had failed to enforce the court order. </p>.<p>Mohan noted that the base fare should be Rs 31.60. "Not a single aggregator follows it. Bengaluru sees 4.8 lakh rides daily. Overcharging just Rs 50 per ride results in a daily loss of Rs 2.4 crore. Since May 2024, commuters have lost Rs 1,010 crore," he claimed and questioned the government's "silence". </p>.<p>Despite the favourable order, the Transport Department has filed an appeal, seeking a review of certain aspects of the judgement. </p>.<p>Yogeesh AM, Commissioner for Transport and Road Safety, had told <span class="italic"><em>DH</em></span> earlier that the court permitted online ride-hailing firms to offer auto rides under the Karnataka On-Demand Transportation Technology Aggregators Rules, 2016. </p>.<p>"We have challenged this before the division bench because those rules apply only to four-wheelers. App-based autos need a separate three-wheeler licence," he had said. </p>.<p>The court is yet to hear the appeal. </p>
<p>Bengaluru: With online auto rides becoming even more expensive in Bengaluru following the bike taxi ban, clamour is growing for enforcing a May 2024 high court order that capped the fares. </p>.<p>Ever since bike taxis stopped operating on June 16, passengers have complained that online auto rides have become both costlier and scarce. </p>.<p>Online auto rides are 20-30% costlier than the meter fair, which is Rs 30 for the first 1.9 km and Rs 15 for every subsequent kilometre. </p>.‘Everyone wants cheaper transport’: Karnataka HC hears appeals against bike taxi ban.<p>Ride-hailing firms levy a surge fare, pick-up charge or platform fee, which they say should not be part of the fare nor regulated by authorities. </p>.<p>On May 27, 2024, the high court ruled that ride-hailing firms cannot charge more than 5% above the stipulated fares for auto rides in Bengaluru, upholding a 2022 notification of the Transport Department. It also restrained the aggregators from imposing surge pricing, stating that any such charges should benefit the permit holder/driver — not the aggregator. </p>.<p>Bangalore MP, PC Mohan, joined the issue on Tuesday, questioning why the state government had failed to enforce the court order. </p>.<p>Mohan noted that the base fare should be Rs 31.60. "Not a single aggregator follows it. Bengaluru sees 4.8 lakh rides daily. Overcharging just Rs 50 per ride results in a daily loss of Rs 2.4 crore. Since May 2024, commuters have lost Rs 1,010 crore," he claimed and questioned the government's "silence". </p>.<p>Despite the favourable order, the Transport Department has filed an appeal, seeking a review of certain aspects of the judgement. </p>.<p>Yogeesh AM, Commissioner for Transport and Road Safety, had told <span class="italic"><em>DH</em></span> earlier that the court permitted online ride-hailing firms to offer auto rides under the Karnataka On-Demand Transportation Technology Aggregators Rules, 2016. </p>.<p>"We have challenged this before the division bench because those rules apply only to four-wheelers. App-based autos need a separate three-wheeler licence," he had said. </p>.<p>The court is yet to hear the appeal. </p>
