Bengaluru Crackdown: 300 Cases Filed, 100+ Autos Seized for Overcharging

Quick Summary

• Bengaluru authorities conducted an enforcement drive against autorickshaw drivers, booking over 300 cases and seizing more than 100 vehicles for overcharging following the bike-taxi ban.
• The operation, overseen by Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy, involved 22 teams covering city and outer areas including Jayanagar (48 violations) and Rajajinagar (36 violations).
• Complaints included daylight overcharging by both app-based and regular autos. Field staff confirmed violations directly with passengers. Penalties range between rs 3,000 to Rs 4,000 for serious offences like missing permits or fitness certificates.
• Ride-hailing apps were also accused of levying unauthorised fees such as pick-up charges and tips amid higher demand post bike-taxi ban. Around 3.6 lakh autos operate in Bengaluru presently.
• RTA has set Rs 30 as the base fare for first 2km with Rs 15 per additional km but commuters are reportedly forced to pay extra frequently.
• The Autorickshaw Drivers’ Union recognized issues with aggregator platforms imposing fees outside departmental control but signaled a likely fare revision to accommodate drivers’ demands: proposed new rates include a base fare of Rs 38 for first two kilometers.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The enforcement drive is emblematic of broader tensions within Bengaluru’s transport ecosystem following the ban on bike taxis, which inadvertently escalated reliance on autorickshaws while exposing gaps in operational regulations-especially app-based aggregators’ growing influence over fares outside legal frameworks.

This crackdown may lead to stricter oversight mechanisms targeting both individual drivers and aggregator platforms to ensure compliance with fixed rates established by the Regional Transport Authority (RTA). Though, it also underscores growing frustration among commuters regarding affordability amidst rising urban mobility challenges.

Simultaneously, ongoing negotiations regarding fare revisions could provide some respite for auto unions seeking financial viability; balancing consumer interest will remain critical if policy shifts occur without inflating costs disproportionately amid accessibility-driven needs across Bengaluru’s diverse commuter group dynamics.

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