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Bengaluru auto fares surged by up to Rs 70 after the High Court banned bike taxis. Commuters faced high prices, tip demands, and limited availability.
With bike taxis suspended in Bengaluru, auto fares have skyrocketed—causing daily distress for commuters.(Representative image)
After the Karnataka High Court ordered a halt to bike taxi services, the impact was instantly felt by commuters across Bengaluru.
Steep Price Hike Across Ride Apps
As per Deccan Herald, from Monday evening to Tuesday, auto fares surged by Rs 10 to Rs 70, causing frustration among daily travellers.
Soibam Jayananda Singh, a communications professional, said the surge was the highest on Uber. “I travel from Koramangala to Langford Road. Normally the fare is Rs 140–Rs 150 during peak hours. On Tuesday, it jumped to over Rs 200,” he said.
Namma Yatri and Rapido also saw a Rs 10 rise, while Uber’s rates went much higher during peak times.
Tipping Becomes a Must for Autos
A regular commuter from Indiranagar to Richmond Town said that all app-based auto services showed an increase of Rs 20–Rs 30. Even then, autos were only available after adding a Rs 60 tip.
Sneha B., who travels from Sultanpalya to Hebbal daily, said:
“The usual fare is Rs 120. On Tuesday, Namma Yatri showed Rs 145, while Rapido and Ola charged around Rs 160.”
Another passenger paid Rs 230 for an 11 km ride from Akshaynagar to MG Road—well above the normal Rs 160–Rs 170 range.
Why the Sudden Surge?
A source from a major ride aggregator explained that the price surge is due to increased demand: “With bike taxis gone, more people are booking autos. The surge pricing reflects that.”
What Can Riders Do?
Legal expert Advocate Indra Dhanush pointed out that dynamic pricing has been criticised by both central and state governments. He called it “arbitrary and unfair”.
He also mentioned that passengers facing such pricing issues can take legal action: “Under Section 2(47) of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, unfair trade practices can be challenged in court,” he said.
Samreen Pall, Senior Sub-Editor at News18, is a Computer Science graduate but a writer at heart, Samreen has one motto that she swears by: ‘Everything is dull and useless if it has no drama in it.’ This motto c…Read More
Samreen Pall, Senior Sub-Editor at News18, is a Computer Science graduate but a writer at heart, Samreen has one motto that she swears by: ‘Everything is dull and useless if it has no drama in it.’ This motto c… Read More
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