App-based cabs continue to fleece public with impunity
Official from the transport department claimed that they been booking cases against these cab operators for overcharging.
Bengaluru: App based cab aggregators are taking full advantage of the poor public transport system in the city and lack of any governmental curbs on fares. They continue to take overcharge passengers citing various flimsy reasons.
Though the transport department had sent its proposals on streamlining the app based cab operators to the Central Government months ago, it is still awaiting their approval.
Ritwik Roy, who recently travelled from Koramangala to KIA in an Ola cab had to shell almost Rs 3,000. He said, “I was shocked to see that I was being charged Rs 2,780 since I was heading out of the city. I was in a hurry hence did not lodge any complaint.” This type of fleecing is not only limited to those travelling to Airport, the situation is no different while travelling even within the city. Ravi V said, “I had to pay Rs 270 on a Sunday to travel from HSR Layout to Corporation Circle.”
However, an official from the transport department claimed that they been booking cases against these cab operators for overcharging. “These cab aggregators are not allowed to overcharge consumers. Although we are waiting for the Centre to accept our proposal to streamline them, but we are continuing our drive against them as well,” he added
Members of Bangalore Tourist Taxi Owners Association said they had numerous talks with the transport department to regulate the app based cab operators and even met the Transport Commissioner on many occasions. Though he had given assurances, but the situation has not changed on the ground.
The members maintain that “There has to a basic fare that needs to be fixed by the state. The department is looking to amend 2006 Radio Taxi Scheme and bring these cabs under them, wherein they will also be compelled to have digital meters. This modified radio taxi scheme should be brought soon. The state government can pass an order and act, they do not have necessarily wait for Centre’s order.”
They pointed out that there is no mechanism to hold cab aggregators like Uber or Ola responsible if they violate permit rule. Ola has got permits to run only 70 cabs, but they are running thousands. There are about 25,000 unregulated cabs plying in the city, they added.