Pune Cab Fare Disputes Continue Unabated Despite Government Promises
In Pune, tensions between cab drivers and commuters over fare disagreements have shown little sign of easing, more than a week after State Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik vowed to take strict action against the use of onlymeter.in. This website is employed by numerous cab drivers to calculate ride charges, yet ground realities remain largely unchanged, with sporadic incidents of violence and confusion prevailing.
Authorities Cite Jurisdictional Limits and Await Policy
A senior traffic police officer from Pimpri Chinchwad acknowledged that law and order concerns have been raised with drivers' unions, but emphasized that fare-related matters fall squarely under the transport department's purview. "We have flagged it to the authorities concerned to prevent recurrence of such incidents," the officer stated, highlighting the need for coordinated efforts.
Regional Transport Officer Sandesh Chavan from Pimpri Chinchwad revealed that the department is currently awaiting the state government's aggregator policy, which is expected to be unveiled within the next week. This proposed policy aims to comprehensively address all issues linked to cab operators and online booking applications, potentially bringing much-needed clarity to the chaotic fare structure.
Violent Incidents and Commuter Frustrations
Recent events have underscored the severity of the situation. In Hinjewadi, a cab driver allegedly bit the finger of an IT professional after the passenger refused to pay the fare as per the meter. Separately, an autorickshaw driver was reported to have assaulted a passenger in a similar dispute over charges.
Following the Hinjewadi incident, Transport Minister Sarnaik announced an investigation into whether onlymeter.in is an officially sanctioned tool. He warned that if found unofficial, strict measures would be initiated against drivers from major platforms like Uber, Rapido, and Ola who utilize it for fare calculations.
Commuters have expressed mounting frustration with the inconsistent charging practices. Atul Kakde, a resident of Hadapsar, shared, "I have been using Ola and Uber for years and always paid the fare shown on the app. Now, drivers are demanding payment as per the meter though there has been no such mention on the app or any notification to customers. Drivers are charging us arbitrarily, violating company norms, and no action is being taken."
Faisal Shaikh from Kondhwa pointed out the selective nature of fare demands, noting, "Drivers don't always insist on charging by the meter. I recently took a ride from Kondhwa to Camp during peak demand, when the app was showing a surge fare. The driver told me to pay the amount shown on the app even though the meter was running because it was higher. This shows drivers are choosing to charge either by meter or app fare based on convenience. No fixed policy is being followed."
Driver Unions Blame Lack of Policy and App Violations
Driver unions attribute the ongoing confusion to the absence of a clear aggregator policy. Keshav Kshirsagar of the Baghtoy Rickshawala Union criticized app-based operators for functioning without valid licenses and displaying fares that lack government approval.
"The issue of fluctuating fares displayed on these apps was discussed at a recent Regional Transport Authority (RTA) meeting, where companies were directed to show only government-approved fares. There has been no compliance so far," Kshirsagar asserted, adding that cab companies have no authority to unilaterally decide fare structures.
He further explained that while the state government notifies fares for autorickshaws and taxis annually, cab companies frequently violate these guidelines. These platforms often offer lower fares during off-peak periods and deduct the balance from drivers' earnings instead of absorbing the costs themselves, exacerbating financial pressures on drivers.
In an effort to mitigate conflicts, unions have advised members to display notices in vehicles explaining the fare situation to customers. "They are repeatedly urged in meetings to refrain from violence," Kshirsagar emphasized, underscoring the need for peaceful resolution amidst the regulatory vacuum.
As Pune awaits the impending aggregator policy, both commuters and drivers hope for a standardized framework that will end the fare disputes and restore order to the city's transport ecosystem.
