Chennai: An unjust surge pricing adopted by the app-based commuting facilities since Sunday evening, after the announcement on Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa’s health, has put Chennaiites in extreme inconvenience. A minimum of three times more than the usual fare had prompted people, to take the trouble in using the already crowded public transportation.
The unusual hike in the travel rates during the crisis has earned a ill reputation to both Ola and Uber, as few people used auto-rickshaws, indeed after a long time.
For instance, a five kilometer ride from Guindy to T Nagar charged Rs 253 in Uber at 9.30 pm on Monday, which would otherwise be less than Rs 100. While Ola through its base service (micro) estimated the ride to around Rs 80 - Rs 89, there was no availability of the vehicles.
This scenario continued on Sunday evening too, even before tension escalated owing to Jayalalithaa’s health deterioration. Narrating the ordeal, Krithika Nair said, “I was charged Rs 250 in Ola for a 3.3 kilometre ride from Teynampet to Greams Road. The surge pricing was five times than that of the usual fare.”
On Monday evening, as when the frequency of MTC buses declined, people completely relied on Ola and Uber, only to realize that they cannot afford the surge charge of more than five times. A regular user of app-based services, C. Priya said, “I had to walk from Egmore to Nungambakkam, as I did not expect this – absence of buses and unexplained surge pricing.”
It was the auto drivers who came in for public rescue finally. In suburban Chennai, autos turned share autos and facilitated in affordable transportation, said Anupriya Murugadasan, a social worker. Efforts to reach the spokesperson of Uber failed, while the mail sent to Ola, seeking explanation was not responded.
