KALYAN: Maharashtra transport minister Pratap Sarnaik has directed the transport commissioner's office to initiate action against app-based taxi aggregators following complaints that passengers are being compelled to pay tips and additional charges by drivers.
The directive comes after Kalyan MP Dr Shrikant Shinde raised concerns over what he described as exploitative practices by certain drivers associated with ride-hailing platforms. According to complaints received from commuters, drivers allegedly demand extra payments over and above the fare displayed on the app, insist on tips before commencing rides, and in some cases cancel bookings if passengers refuse to comply.
Transport commissioner Rajesh Narvekar said: "I have issued directives to all RTOs and called all officers for a meeting on Friday to discuss the issue."
Over the past few days, several passengers have taken to social media to report such incidents, claiming that they were subjected to inconvenience, harassment and financial exploitation, particularly during urgent travel situations. Taking note of the growing number of complaints, Shinde urged the state transport minister to intervene and ensure that commuters are protected from arbitrary practices.
Responding swiftly, Sarnaik termed the reported incidents "unfair and unacceptable" and said passengers cannot be forced to pay tips or additional amounts beyond the prescribed fare. He directed the Transport Commissioner to investigate the functioning of the companies concerned and take stringent action wherever violations are found.
The minister also announced that the state transport department is working on a new aggregator policy aimed at regulating app-based taxi and ride-hailing services more effectively. The proposed policy is expected to address issues related to passenger rights, fare transparency and accountability of service providers.
Shinde maintained that while tips offered voluntarily by customers are a reflection of service quality, demanding them as a precondition for providing service amounts to a violation of consumer rights. He said exploiting passengers during times of need and compelling them to pay extra charges is akin to holding customers to ransom.
