Hyderabad: App fares surge as rain, traffic push up costs
Hyderabad: Booking a vehicle through an app is supposed to make travel easier. But commuters say aggregators and drivers are making the experience difficult, with fares rising sharply during rain, heavy traffic and late-night hours.
Even when passengers accept the higher fares, they face other problems. Drivers call after a booking to ask for the destination, refuse trips if the distance is short, demand tips before accepting bookings and cancel rides after accepting them on the app.
Short trips often leave passengers struggling to find rides
While people earlier used autos for nearby destinations and approached known car travel operators for longer journeys, app-based bookings have now become common for most trips.
Passengers say fares offered by different aggregator companies can vary significantly for the same route. They also want clarity on how much fares can be increased.
Private buses, too, are raising fares at their discretion, they say.
Transport department faces calls for fare regulation
The transport department collects thousands of crores of rupees every year from vehicle owners through registrations, permits, various fees, road safety cess and challans.
Passengers say the department appears to be focusing on revenue while paying less attention to their financial interests and safety when they travel in private vehicles.
They want the new aggregator policy being prepared by the transport department to regulate fares charged for app-based car, two-wheeler and auto services, as well as private buses.
Passengers are also seeking a clear ceiling on fare increases and greater regulation of aggregator services.
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