Mumbai Commuters Allege Rapido Overcharging On Short Auto Rides As Transport Dept Plans Show-Cause Notice

Mumbai commuters have complained that auto-rickshaw drivers charge higher fares on short-distance rides through aggregator platforms like Rapido, compared to using the meter. State transport officials plan to send a show-cause notice to Rapido and take action. Transport Commissioner Rajesh Narvekar confirmed the department's plan to issue the notice and take action against the aggregator platform. Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik also labeled the practice as overcharging and said it would be investigated.

Commuter Krishna N Singh reported that multiple auto drivers refused to use the meter for short rides from Goregaon station to Oberoi Mall, opting instead to accept the same trips through Rapido, which charged around Rs 76, compared to the metered fare of approximately Rs 40 for the same distance. Singh said he had inquired with several drivers, but they all refused to use the meter. He said the fare issue was not isolated to a single driver.

The allegations have led to questions about whether drivers are being indirectly pushed towards using aggregator services due to their reluctance to accept short-distance rides on the meter. Passengers say they are left with limited options when multiple drivers refuse a ride. Rapido did not respond to inquiries about the fare structure, whether it follows a fixed fare for auto-rickshaw rides, and how it prevents overcharging on short trips.

Meanwhile, illegal bike-taxi services, including motorcycles with regular white number plates, continue to operate in Mumbai. Some pillion passengers have reportedly been denied helmets, raising safety concerns. The services also allegedly do not follow the requirement of using electric two-wheelers for bike-taxi operations. The continued operation of these illegal services has raised questions about enforcement and passenger safety, especially as commuters increasingly rely on app-based two-wheeler services for short-distance travel.