Based on the latest notification from the Karnataka State Transport Department, cabs are going to get costlier in Bengaluru. After years of turning a blind eye towards commuters’ plight, increasing pressure on public transport, and unresolved infrastructural issues, the latest development will place cab rides costlier and make it harder to find a cab.

We want to bring it to the attention of all residents and stakeholders that the abrupt increase in fares will adversely affect our daily commute and our plans around time of work and travel.  This sudden change not only raises concerns about the justifiability of such pricing decisions for customers but also makes it harder for the city’s cab drivers who will see a decrease in their earnings as they will not be compensated adequately for peak hour rides.

Lack of Transparency:

The decision to hike cab fares lacks transparency, and the public has not been informed about the reasons behind this increase. Transparency is necessary to ensure that the public can assess the fairness and justifiability of such pricing decisions. There has been no reasonable explanation for the high fixed per km fares being set by the Government.

Consumer Protection:

The pricing decisions made by the State Department in matters of public transportation are inherently driven by public interest. This petition seeks to uphold the principles of consumer protection and ensure that the public is not subject to arbitrary or unjustified fare increases.

Impact on Commuters:

The sudden hike in cab fares places an undue burden on the residents of this city, affecting their daily commute and contributing to increased transportation costs. This impact is especially felt by the economically vulnerable sections of the population.

High fares even during non peak hours!

The fares are expected to increase by 20% from Manyata Tech Park to Banaswadi Railway Station, a 6-7 km journey during non-peak hours
Overall, a regular office commuter could end up shelling out an extra Rs.1000 per month for a 7 km ride to and fro

Peak hour certainty gone for a toss!

The fares are expected to fall by 30% during the peak hours. While this seems like a good outcome at first, on closer look one understands that this change will lead to lower acceptance of rides by drivers who will be unwilling to drive at a lower fare. This, in turn, will lead to lower availability of cars for routes such as HBR Layout ORR to Whitefield.

We urge the Transport Department to consider the implementation of surge pricing or a range of fares during peak hours to incentivize drivers and ensure a more reliable service for customers.

Airport fares will become a new nightmare! 

Sedan fares to the airport from Whitefield are expected to rise by 20% whereas the fare from airport to Electronic city is expected to increase by a massive 70%. Coughing up Rs.2000 or more could become a de facto.

Absence of Mobility Innovations:

Many cities around the world have embraced mobility innovations facilitated by corporate partnerships, leading to more efficient and technologically advanced transportation solutions. Unfortunately, we have not witnessed similar initiatives in our city, considering we also banned car-pool options in the recent past.

We request an explanation from the Transport Department regarding the reasons for not actively engaging with corporates to plan and implement mobility innovations that can enhance the overall commuting experience.

Immediate Requests:

In light of these concerns, we request the Transport Department to:

Conduct a transparent review of the recent cab fare hike, considering the economic impact on consumers.
Explore options for surge pricing during peak hours to improve the availability of cabs and ensure timely service.
Engage with corporate entities to foster innovation in mobility solutions, ensuring that the city remains at the forefront of advancements in urban transportation.

We believe that addressing these issues will not only benefit consumers but also contribute to the growth and efficiency of the transportation sector in our city which has been delayed and denied for years.

Sign this petition to show your support for this cause!