Manish Tewari flags exorbitant cab fares in Chandigarh

Lok Sabha member Manish Tewari has demanded urgent action from Chandigarh authorities over steep cab fare hikes following the suspension of major app-based aggregators. In a social media post on Monday, Tewari called the current pricing extractive and bordering on extortion, and said he has raised the issue with the state transport authority head and senior officials. He urged a negotiated solution to protect commuters from bearing the cost of the dispute between aggregators, drivers and the administration.

The fare surge follows the six-month suspension of Uber and Rapido licences by the UT administration earlier this month, adding to earlier suspensions of Ola and inDrive. Bharat Taxi has become the main alternative operator, but passengers report fares doubling on short routes, with a ₹100 ride now costing up to ₹200. A retired Brigadier and Shaurya Chakra recipient called the overcharging daylight robbery.

The dispute stems from Chandigarh's Motor Vehicles Aggregators Rules, 2025, which set fares at ₹25 per km and mandate driver insurance and vehicle standards. Driver unions are pressing for further rate revisions, citing rising fuel and operating costs. Tewari has asked officials to find a workable solution quickly.