Ola

Aiyappa

Tanveer Pasha

Maharashtra

Commuters depending on taxi aggregators like Uber orto ply between destinations might have to shell out more.This could well be the case as the transport department is mulling over banning promotional low fares by aggregators to impose higher minimum fares for taxis – which has come as a major shocker even to taxi aggregators.At present in the city, taxi aggregators are charging promotional fares as low as Rs 5 to Rs 7 per kilometre. Commissioner of transport department MKsaid a committee headed by an additional commissioner will look into the issue.Aiyappa said: “Keeping in mind the interest of drivers who have attached their vehicles with aggregators, we have decided to impose a minimum fare for the taxis. At present, the taxi aggregators are coming out with various slabs of fares which include cheaper fares. Though cheaper fares are beneficial for the customers, drivers are finding it very difficult. We will fix justifiable minimum fares which will be beneficial to both drivers and the passengers.”The transport department has already fixed a maximum fare of Rs 14.50 for non-air-conditioned (A/c) taxis and Rs 19.50 for A/c taxis.Despite that, the aggregators have been charging their own fare structure which include surge pricing, peak-time charge, and ride-time charges, which do not have legal sanction by the government.The transport department has been maintaining that taxi aggregators can come out with their fare structure, but the total fare charged should not cross the maximum fare cap fixed by the department.The drivers who have been protesting against Uber and Ola have been demanding that taxi aggregators should charge as per the fare fixed by the government, and not their own fare structures.Taxi drivers’ association presidentsaid, “We have been demanding that they (Uber and Ola) charge fare as per the rate fixed by the government, and not to charge their fare. Fare fixed by the aggregators is not beneficial for the drivers. The drivers are forced to accept booking for long distances for lower fares. If they charge government fares no driver will ask for incentives. Now in the name incentives they have been harassing the drivers.”However, imposing a minimum fare on taxi aggregators will be a tough task for the department. It is also wary about opposition from various quarters.Aiyappa said, “We have heard thatgovernment is making a move to bring out a minimum fare rule. Prior to coming out with the rule, we will also go for public consultation on the issue.”However, conventional taxi and cab operators are charging fares fixed by the government.