Transport Minister cracks the whip on overcharging autos, including app-based ones

Karnataka Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy has cracked the whip following the complaint that Bengaluru commuters have had for long — of autorickshaws overcharging. In a letter to the transport commissioner dated June 28, he has directed officials to cancel permits and take action against erring auto drivers, including those operating under aggregators.

Terming it “daylight robbery,” Mr. Reddy gave the example of an auto ride costing ₹100.89 per km on one app on June 18, while on another, a 4-km ride cost ₹184.19. “The transport department has been taking action against autos refusing to ply and overcharging,” he said, adding that mobile screenshots from commuters regarding such violations will be taken into account for action.

Bengaluru commuters have been calling out app-based auto rides for the hidden charges, algorithm-driven pricing, and inconsistent tipping policies. Many have also complained of how booking an auto through an app often includes additional costs labelled as “tips” or “pick-up fee.”

Tough to enforce

However, commuters, who have been dealing with this problem since years, said enforcement will not be easy. “When was the last time anyone hailed an auto on the road? The sanctity of the meter was lost years ago, and we have become too used to paying much more than what the journey is supposed to cost - be it in normal autos or app-based ones. How many complaints will the authorities be able to take?” asked Geetha S., a resident of Banashankari who travels by auto every day to work.

The Bengaluru Traffic Police too had recently intensified their crackdown on autorickshaw drivers violating rules, including overcharging, refusal to ply, and lack of proper documentation. Special teams were formed in all traffic divisions to approach autorickshaw drivers in mufti as customers.

M.N. Anucheth, Joint Commissioner of Police, said that the move followed rising commuter complaints and efforts to streamline public transport services after the curbs on bike taxis. The police have said that repeat offenders will be dealt with seriously and their licences will be seized.

Drivers’ demand

On the other hand, autorickshaw drivers have been demanding a fare revision since last year due to the increasing prices of commodities, fuel and inflation. In March this year, a majority of autorickshaw driver unions agreed to revise the minimum fare to ₹40 and ₹20 per every subsequent kilometre. After a fare revision in 2021, the minimum fare has stood at ₹30 and ₹15 for every additional kilometre.