Pune Commuters Face Continued Cab Fare Harassment Despite Website Shutdown
Commuters in Pune have expressed frustration as they continue to encounter harassment from cab drivers, even after the controversial website onlymeter.in, long blamed for enabling arbitrary fare calculations, has gone inactive. According to users, the only significant change is that drivers have now shifted to using mobile phone calculators to demand inflated fares, maintaining the same problematic practices.
Personal Experiences Highlight Ongoing Issues
Working professional Subodh Rajan experienced this firsthand on Sunday when he booked an Uber cab from Kalyaninagar to Pune airport. "I was aware that onlymeter.in had stopped working. However, the driver insisted that I pay 'by meter'. When I questioned him, he said the fare would be calculated at Rs25 per km and proceeded to use his phone calculator. When he realised that the app fare was higher, he immediately switched back," Rajan told TOI.
A sales representative recounted a similar incident during a recent trip from Wanowrie to Seasons Mall. "The Uber fare showed Rs250, but the driver charged Rs376 using his own calculation. He didn't inform me about 'meter fare' until the trip ended," he said.
Hadapsar resident Vinayak Holkar faced comparable challenges. "One driver quoted Rs30 per km, and another Rs25 per km, asking for Rs560 for a trip to Bibwewadi. The same ride was Rs270 on Rapido. I cancelled both and took an autorickshaw instead," he explained.
Background on the Controversial Website
The website onlymeter.in, launched last year by Indian Gig Workers Front president Keshav Kshirsagar, had drawn widespread criticism for promoting non-standardised fares. While it was reported that the site was taken down following incidents of violence involving cab drivers, Kshirsagar maintained a different stance. "The website has been suspended for updates and should be back by the end of the week. However, violence against commuters is unacceptable. If such incidents continue, the platform will be shut permanently. The updated version will reflect fares aligned with Regional Transport Authority (RTA) norms," he stated.
Commuters Voice Frustration Online and Offline
Despite the website going offline, commuters report that the situation remains largely unchanged on the ground, with drivers continuing to quote arbitrary rates—typically between Rs25 and Rs30 per km. Ramauj Vartak, who was trying to travel from Pune station to Koregaon Park in a cab, shared his experience online. "How can drivers arbitrarily charge Rs25 per km and call it 'meter fare' when there is no functional meter? One driver even said the meter wasn't working but the rule still applied," he said.
Vartak also revealed that another cab driver allegedly told him that union pressure forces them to charge such rates or risk damage to their vehicles, highlighting broader systemic issues.
Official Response and Future Outlook
Attempts to reach senior Regional Transport Office (RTO) officials for comment went unanswered. However, a junior official reiterated that a cab aggregator policy is expected soon. "Once the policy is rolled out, such issues will be brought under control," the official said, offering a glimmer of hope for resolution.
As Pune commuters navigate these challenges, the shift from a website to mobile calculators underscores persistent gaps in fare regulation and enforcement, calling for urgent attention from authorities to protect consumer rights and ensure fair pricing in the cab industry.
