Rapido draws flak for charging users extra for traffic delays, commuters term it ‘extortion’

Ride-hailing platform Rapido is under fresh scrutiny from users for introducing a charge that penalises passengers if their ride is delayed by traffic. Several commuters in Bengaluru have flagged this new fee levied after 10 minutes of delay due to traffic as unfair and exploitative, especially when traffic congestion is beyond a passenger’s control.

According to a new prompt on the app seen by users, Rapido notifies riders during the trip that “heavy traffic means extra time on the road for your captain.” The app offers the first 10 minutes of delay during the ride without charge, but thereafter charges ₹0.50 per minute upto ₹30, according to the users. The move comes even as the company, along with other ride-hailing platforms, is under the scanner of the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) for prompting passengers to offer advance tips during the ride-booking process.

Pavithra Rao, a resident of Hebbal, was travelling by auto from Shanthinagara to Palace Guttahalli on Monday when she was hit with an additional fee for being stuck in traffic. “While I don’t have a problem with fair compensation for drivers, charging customers for traffic seems like extortion. I had already selected a ₹40 tip for my ride as it was peak hour. Traffic is not in my control, and I do not agree with paying extra for it,” she told The Hindu.

Another scam?

For Sanjay Kumar from Indiranagar, this is not an isolated case. “For the last two days, I’ve been charged ₹18-20 more than the initial fare estimate. On Monday, I was billed ₹26 extra. When I contacted customer care, they said it was because of the ride’s duration, not the distance. Is this some kind of scam? This is the third consecutive day I am paying more than the agreed fare,” he said.

Similarly, Deeksha M. from Lakkasandra said she was notified mid-ride that she would be charged more after being stuck in peak-hour traffic. “This is just crazy. Not only do I arrive late for work and pay a fine at the office, but now I also pay extra for a delay I did not cause. I had already added a ₹40 advance tip to even get the ride. This is not a good development. The government or authority concerned must step in,” she said.

Advance tipping; nothing changed

The timing of Rapido’s new policy is notable. On May 21, Union Minister of Consumer Affairs Pralhad Joshi directed the CCPA to issue a notice to Uber over advance tipping practices that were being prompted at the time of booking, instead of after the ride. A day later, he confirmed that similar notices were being considered for Ola and Rapido.

Though ride-hailing apps responded by tweaking their language from “Add a tip” to “Add more (voluntary) to find a ride,” little has changed on the ground. Commuters say the problem has simply evolved, with the companies now finding new ways to monetise traffic delays.

The Hindu reached out to Rapido for a response to the latest allegations, but the company declined to comment.

Published - June 03, 2025 08:16 pm IST