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Time of India
7 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Ola, Uber & Rapido told to justify rates; RTA-approved fares to pinch pocket
The transport commissioner 's office on Tuesday directed Ola , Uber and Rapido to submit a written explanation on how they determine fares as Indian Gig Workers' Front continued a pause on the strike of app-based cabs , which was going to be resumed on Wednesday. Additional transport commissioner Bharat Kalaskar said, "We had two meetings on Tuesday with firm officials and union leaders. After discussions, we decided that Ola, Uber, and Rapido should provide us with a written explanation on how they determine the app-based fares for cabs and autorickshaws in various cities, and how much they differ from the RTO-approved rates." The demand for high fares has been the reason for agitation by hundreds of drivers across the state. Kalaskar said he has asked the aggregator company if any drivers' IDs have been blocked lately for charging at RTA-approved rates, those IDs should be reactivated. In Pune, the RTA approved fares stand at Rs. 75 for the first 3km and then Rs 25 for every subsequent km. If RTA-approved fare system, as assured by the state transport department, comes into effect, a 10km cab ride for people would cost at least Rs 249.50. At present, the average cab fare (non-surge) for the same distance is around Rs 175 for a basic Uber ride (Uber Go). Commuters blamed the Pune RTO for letting the issue escalate. "They should have acted when this whole issue started. But they hid under the garb that commuters would be affected if they took action. Aren't we facing the problems now?" Kalpana Seth, a bank employee from Kondhwa, said. Maharashtra Kamgar Sena president Keshav Kshirsagar said: "The (state transport department) officials have assured us Ola, Uber and Rapido will give a written assurance to the department on Wednesday on introducing RTA-based fares on their platforms. In the application they will also mention the date from which the RTA-approved fares will get reflected." Prashant Sawardekar, president of the Indian Federation of App-Based Transporters , said, "The transport officials informed us on Tuesday that govt will soon come out with a new policy, which will define the fares for app-based cabs. But we are against this state policy, as Centre has issued guidelines that are completely different. The central guidelines for aggregators mention that the surge price for cabs can go up to 50% of the base fare (which is up to Rs 48 per km). This is not part of the state draft policy." Sushmita Ghosh took to X on Tuesday and posted, "...New airport has all possible inconveniences. The drivers are accepting rides from tired and frustrated travellers, but upon arrival cancelling the trip and telling the passengers to pay Rs 300-400 more." Aneesha Acharya replied to the post and posted, "Today, I booked an Uber ride to go to a hospital in Pimpri from the camp area. Fare on app was Rs 295. On arrival the driver insisted that I pay Rs 700 for 20km. I called Uber support and was shocked to hear 'you have to pay by meter, rates not yet fixed'."
Time of India
7 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Ola, Uber & Rapido told to justify rates; RTA-approved fares to pinch pocket
Mumbai/Pune: The transport commissioner's office on Tuesday directed Ola , Uber and Rapido to submit a written explanation on how they determine fares as Indian Gig Workers' Front continued a pause on the strike of app-based cabs, which was going to be resumed on Wednesday. Additional transport commissioner Bharat Kalaskar said, "We had two meetings on Tuesday with firm officials and union leaders. After discussions, we decided that Ola, Uber, and Rapido should provide us with a written explanation on how they determine the app-based fares for cabs and autorickshaws in various cities, and how much they differ from the RTO-approved rates." The demand for high fares has been the reason for agitation by hundreds of drivers across the state. Kalaskar said he has asked the aggregator company if any drivers' IDs have been blocked lately for charging at RTA-approved rates, those IDs should be reactivated. In Pune, the RTA approved fares stand at Rs. 75 for the first 3km and then Rs 25 for every subsequent km. You Can Also Check: Pune AQI | Weather in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune If RTA-approved fare system, as assured by the state transport department, comes into effect, a 10km cab ride for people would cost at least Rs 249.50. At present, the average cab fare (non-surge) for the same distance is around Rs 175 for a basic Uber ride (Uber Go). by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Do you have a mouse? Desert Order Undo Commuters blamed the Pune RTO for letting the issue escalate. "They should have acted when this whole issue started. But they hid under the garb that commuters would be affected if they took action. Aren't we facing the problems now?" Kalpana Seth, a bank employee from Kondhwa, said. Maharashtra Kamgar Sena president Keshav Kshirsagar said: "The (state transport department) officials have assured us Ola, Uber and Rapido will give a written assurance to the department on Wednesday on introducing RTA-based fares on their platforms. In the application they will also mention the date from which the RTA-approved fares will get reflected." Prashant Sawardekar, president of the Indian Federation of App-Based Transporters, said, "The transport officials informed us on Tuesday that govt will soon come out with a new policy, which will define the fares for app-based cabs. But we are against this state policy, as Centre has issued guidelines that are completely different. The central guidelines for aggregators mention that the surge price for cabs can go up to 50% of the base fare (which is up to Rs 48 per km). This is not part of the state draft policy." Sushmita Ghosh took to X on Tuesday and posted, "...New airport has all possible inconveniences. The drivers are accepting rides from tired and frustrated travellers, but upon arrival cancelling the trip and telling the passengers to pay Rs 300-400 more." Aneesha Acharya replied to the post and posted, "Today, I booked an Uber ride to go to a hospital in Pimpri from the camp area. Fare on app was Rs 295. On arrival the driver insisted that I pay Rs 700 for 20km. I called Uber support and was shocked to hear 'you have to pay by meter, rates not yet fixed'."
Time of India
25-05-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Mumbai-Pune Expressway sees drop in accidents thanks to traffic management system
The Intelligent Traffic Management System (ITMS) on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway has significantly reduced accidents and fatalities, with 11 casualties reported between January and April 2024. This contrasts sharply with the Samruddhi Expressway, which recorded 55 deaths during the same period. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads The Intelligent Traffic Management System (ITMS) has helped reduce the number of accidents on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway , which has witnessed fewer casualties in the last four months against the Samruddhi Expressway , where 55 deaths were reported, officials said. As per the Maharashtra highway police 's data sourced by PTI, the Mumbai-Pune Expressway witnessed 10 fatal crashes resulting in 11 casualties from January to April this year, while the Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi Expressway recorded 47 crashes, in which 55 people lost their lives during the same to officials from the state transport department, the ITMS, which has been in place on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway since July 2024, has played a key role in reducing accidents, along with stricter enforcement, enhanced patrolling, and public awareness the system, 17 violations such as overspeeding, illegal parking, wrong entry, driving without a seat belt, using mobile phones while driving, and lane-cutting are monitored using advanced surveillance cameras and automated to PTI, additional transport commissioner Bharat Kalaskar said the ITMS has proved a deterrent and helped control over-speeding, which is one of the major causes of accidents and said after getting multiple e-challans, drivers do not dare to speed."ITMS has reduced overspeeding and lane-cutting tendencies on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway significantly. As fatalities are directly proportional to speed, the control on overspeeding and other violations have helped bring down accidents," he plan to implement the system on the Samruddhi Expressway as well, officials the 191 accidents recorded on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway in 2024, 90 were killed in 74 fatal crashes, while the Samruddhi Expressway saw 137 accidents, of which 96 were fatal and claimed 126 lives, the official data for over two decades, the 95-km Mumbai-Pune Expressway - officially named Yashwantrao Chavan Expressway - is India's first access-controlled, six-lane expressway, connecting the financial capital to Pune , an IT 701-km Mumbai-Nagpur Expressway, named Hindu Hrudaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg, is operational between Igatpuri in Nashik district and Nagpur, and its final phase between Igatpuri and Amane in Thane district is nearly complete and expected to open to the public soon.
Time of India
18-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Similar facility in state buses but fares differ, complain commuters
Mumbai: Bus aficionado and regular commuter of state buses, Rohit Dhende, on Sunday questioned MSRTC for charging different fares for e-Shivneri and e-Shivai buses when the amenities and comfort provided to commuters were the same in both buses. "Why should one pay different fares just for different brand names and colour of buses?" he asked. He told TOI that the two buses were 12-metre-long CX2 electric coach bus models. "From the passenger's point of view, the comfort level was the same with push-back seats, air-conditioned coach, USB charger, reading lights, etc.," he said. The corporation charges a minimum fare of Rs 23 on blue 'E-Shivneri' buses and Rs 17 for the white and green colour 'E-Shivai', both serving inter-city routes on a wet lease model with similar features, he added. Additional transport commissioner Bharat Kalaskar said transport authority approves fare hikes as per the type of service. "Since you pointed this out, I will check and revert," Kalaskar said. Talking to a news agency, Maharashtra transport minister Pratap Sarnaik said he would not allow any injustice to passengers .tnn & agencies
