BENGALURU: Taking their turf war forward, Uber has chosen to mimic the Ola auto flat rate of `29 for 4 km for its pool cab services, which roughly translates to `7.25 per km. But despite the cutthroat competition from cheap, more efficient services, regular auto drivers continue to remain unfazed, fleecing commuters at will.
The rates of cab services is in sharp contrast to the steep government-fixed autorickshaw fare of `13 per km.
“It makes more sense to take UberPool or Ola Auto for short distance travel than regular autos. Most of the regular auto drivers are arrogant and reluctant to ply by meter,” says Anita S, a regular commuter in Koramangala.
According to Bengaluru Traffic Police records, the number of autorickshaws booked for demanding excess fare has risen from 10,591 in 2015 to 12,153 in 2016.
Till March this year, 1,869 cases were booked. The number of cases booked against autorickshaws for refusal to ply has slightly reduced from 19,804 in 2015 to 18,693 in 2016. Between January and March this year, 3,030 cases were registered.
Additional Police Commissioner (Traffic) R Hithendra said, “There is no change in the attitude and behaviour of some auto drivers even after the entry of private cabs. But we regularly conduct inspections and take action against errant auto drivers”.
Some commuters complain that most auto drivers have made a habit of fleecing passengers. “It’s hassle free to book a taxi through an app. Also, I am picked up from my doorstep and dropped at the exact destination without any bargaining. But unfortunately, commuters, especially senior citizens who are not tech savvy, have no other alternatives,” said Ramesh Gowda, a resident of Yelahanka.
“I have stopped taking regular autos since 2015 as taxi fares are more affordable. Traffic police should set up more pre-paid auto counters in the city to rein in errant auto drivers,” he added.
According to Bengaluru Traffic Police, the city has nine prepaid auto counters -- city railway station, Majestic bus terminus, Cantonment railway station, Yeshwantpur railway station, Banaswadi railway station, MG Road, Mysore Road satellite bus stand, Garuda Mall in Magrath Road and Forum Mall in Koramangala. However, many counters do not function for 24 hours.
Rudra Murthy, general secretary of Auto Drivers Union admits that they are facing stiff competition from cab operators and the metro. “Only a few drivers in the city are demanding `10 above the meter,” he claimed.