Steep auto-cab fares & long wait test people’s patience on rainy days

Pune: The heavy rainfall on Monday and Tuesday caused significant disruptions for daily commuters relying on app-based autorickshaws and cabs, with long waiting period and surge pricing testing their patience. In many cases, drivers insisted on higher prices reflected in the aggregator app unlike their recent practice of demanding meter fare.Salisbury Park resident Kedar Damte, who works with a firm on JM Road, waited for one-and-a-half hours on Tuesday evening for an autorickshaw before a colleague offered to drop him at the Pune railway station. "I tried multiple aggregator apps, but no driver accepted my ride request, despite the app showing a fare of nearly Rs 400. The cab fares were even higher at Rs 600. Finally, a colleague dropped me off at the Pune railway station around 8pm, from where I hired an autorickshaw for Rs 450 for a distance of just about 6km. I had no choice. Still I reached home only around 10.30pm," he said.IT professional Raveesh Joshi was shocked when his cab booking from Pune airport to Hinjewadi Phase-1 displayed a fare of Rs800 on Monday evening. "The cab driver was firm on the fare, refusing to negotiate. When I cited the govt-approved fare website (onlymeter.in) showing Rs 630, he dismissed it, prompting me to cancel the ride and opt for a prepaid autorickshaw for Rs 555," he said.Ghole Road resident Nachiketa Das, who works in Vimannagar, spent two hours after his 5 pm shift trying to catch an auto, both through apps and on the street. "It was raining cats and dogs, so I opted against riding my motorcycle and tried booking an auto via apps, but did not succeed. Auto demanded Rs 600-700. Eventually, I rode till airport, parked my bike at AeroMall and took a prepaid auto for Rs 315, reaching home only after 10pm," he said.Keshav Kshirsagar, the president of the Baghtoy Rickshawaala and Indian gig workers unions, said all members were advised against fleecing passengers. "These are standing instructions. Meter fares for both cabs and autorickshaws are applicable. All must obey them and shouldn't exploit commuters," he said.A message was sent to Pune RTO Archana Gaikwad about the issue, but remained unanswered till going to press. Another RTO official said they would take action.