Bengaluru commuters press for transparency in cab, auto surge fares

Commuters in Bengaluru are urging the Transport Department to step in over surge fares charged by app-based cab and auto aggregators, arguing that the pricing mechanism behind the higher amounts is rarely made clear.

Riders say they accept that fares can rise when demand is high, but want the additional charges to be explained and displayed transparently. Their concern persists even though the government has fixed a uniform fare structure for autorickshaws, which was meant to give passengers greater certainty.

According to commuters, dynamic pricing on digital platforms makes it hard to separate the prescribed base rate from the surge component added on top.

Bhavana H.S., a Banashankari resident who uses app-based autos to reach her office on M.G. Road, said she does not object to surge pricing as such, but wants passengers told why they are paying more. She recalled that higher fares for late-night travel existed in the past when meters were in use, but said app-based surge pricing leaves her with no clear way of knowing the actual base fare, the size of the surge, or the reason for it.

Poojitha K. from J.P. Nagar said passengers should receive a clear explanation whenever a higher fare is imposed. She suggested a breakdown stating, for example, that a 20% additional charge applies because of heavy rain, or a 30% surge because demand is particularly high. At present, she said, passengers are shown only the final amount, without enough information to understand how it was arrived at. If aggregators can calculate surge pricing in real time, they should be able to explain it in real time as well, she added.

The matter has also surfaced on social media. In August, several users complained online about app-based aggregators raising minimum autorickshaw fares in Bengaluru, particularly after the Transport Department intensified action against bike taxis.

The government-prescribed autorickshaw fare was fixed by the Regional Transport Authority (RTA) of Bengaluru Urban district in July 2025. Under that structure, the minimum fare is ₹36 for the first 2 km, followed by ₹18 per km thereafter. Waiting charges do not apply for the first five minutes.

Transport expert M.N. Srihari said a clear regulatory framework is needed for how digital aggregators determine and apply surge fares. He said the government should bring in rules governing surge pricing by app-based cab and auto aggregators and ensure they are enforced strictly, since regulation cannot stop at fixing the basic fare. Aggregators, he added, should be required to disclose the base fare, the additional surge component and the reason for the increase before a passenger confirms a ride. A transparent framework would give commuters clarity and create accountability for aggregators and operators, and the rules should be enforceable across platforms rather than remain mere guidelines, he said.

A senior Transport Department official said the department would act on complaints received from commuters. Attempts to obtain responses from auto and cab aggregators went unanswered.