Ride Services Provide One Vehicle Number, Another Vehicle Comes to Pick You
Hyderabad: Even as there is a rising patronisation of Ola and Rapido ride services across cities, an unusual issue has cropped up. The auto or bike that arrives to pick up the customer often has a different registration number than the one shown in the app.
This mismatch is worrying the passengers, especially about the safety aspect, and makes them wonder if the companies are following proper safety protocols and regulations.
Many of the regular users have come across this experience.
Priya Sharma, an IT employee, stated: “I booked a Rapido bike to get to work but when the driver arrived, the number on the bike did not match the number that was shown in the app. I felt uncomfortable and decided to cancel.”
Many riders report that it has become so common for vehicles to show up with different registration numbers that they no longer question it. In the rush to reach their destination, users simply share the OTP and proceed with the ride, ignoring the risks. However, this growing trend raises serious concerns about safety, as passengers can never be certain what risks and threats are likely to befall them.
Rithika. M shared her concerns, saying, “I often have autos or bikes arrive with different registration numbers than those shown in the app. The driver still has the phone and handles the ride details like taking the pin for the actual ride itself. In most cases, the details of the driver are the same, though in some cases the driver is also different. Imagine booking an auto around midnight, only for a vehicle with a different number to show up. Would you still take it? Ola and Uber advise that we check the vehicle number before starting the ride.”
Subhash Chandra, a college student, shared a recent experience with Ola bikes.
“I booked a ride to my college and waited for a long time. I was unable to spot my driver. It turned out that he was right in front of me but on an electric scooter instead of the bike that was mentioned in the app. When I asked him about it, he explained that he had opted for an electric scooter to save on fuel costs,” Chandra said.
Prakash, an Ola driver, explained that many drivers like him operate rented autos. “I rent my auto from different owners, so the vehicle I drive changes frequently. I initially registered with Rapido using the auto number I had at that time.”
Similarly, Hari Shankar said, “My auto often breaks down. On such days, I borrow a friend’s auto or rent one to make sure I don’t lose out on my daily earnings. It’s common for drivers to switch vehicles and keep their business running smoothly.”
Another rapido driver revealed that when he’s not going to work, he lends his phone to other drivers to complete trips on his behalf. At times, he even logs out of his account and shares the credentials with other driver so they can take more trips and earn bonuses.
One driver disclosed that apps send random verification notifications requiring them to upload a selfie/photograph during rides. He admitted that when another driver is using his credentials and vehicle, they upload a dark or unclear photo.
“If the verification fails, the company calls the registered driver, who simply explains that the camera quality was poor,” he stated.
Meanwhile, a senior task force official stated that no complaints have been registered regarding this issue. “When we come across anything like that, we will definitely work on it. Companies like Rapido, Ola and Uber must ensure proper physical check-ups of the details of the driver and the vehicles before registering them,” he added.
