Transport Department to hold meeting on regulating aggregator fares

BENGALURU: The Transport Department, along with representatives of aggregators like Ola, Uber and Rapido, autorickshaw unions, drivers and the public, has decided to hold a meeting on October 21 to fix the fares for autorickshaw rides.

The Transport Department and other representatives will fix the fares of Ola, Uber, and Rapido aggregators on October 21.

The Karnataka High Court has slammed Ola, Uber, and Rapido aggregators for violating the Transport Department rules and also for fixing their own charges. Following the instructions from the court, the Transport Department will fix the fares for Ola, Uber, and Rapido aggregators by November 7. The department will have to submit a report on autorickshaw fares to the court.

The government has fixed Rs 30 as the minimum fare for autorickshaws for the first 2 km and Rs 15 for every subsequent kilometre, while luggage and waiting charges were fixed at Rs 5. The Transport Department has planned to fix Rs 35 as the minimum fare for the first 2 km and Rs 17 for every subsequent kilometre. At present, the aggregators are charging around Rs 80-100 for as minimum fare. The licences given to Ola and Uber for autorickshaw services had expired in 2021.