A Bengaluru woman has shared a disturbing experience involving an Ola auto driver who demanded extra fare and used abusive language when she refused to pay. The incident has prompted responses from both the Bengaluru police and Ola, who have promised to investigate the matter.
Incident Details
Tanisha Mallya took to social media platform X to recount her unsettling encounter with the Ola auto driver. She had booked an Ola Auto for a journey of approximately 25 km, with a fare range initially quoted between Rs 347-356. However, upon reaching her destination, the driver demanded Rs 470, claiming he had travelled over 45 km.
Mallya wrote, “I had a harrowing and unsettling experience with my @Olacabs booking today in Bangalore.” She detailed how the driver insisted on the higher fare and became abusive when she refused to pay. “When I fought back that he should take this up w/ Ola not me, he got out of the vehicle & started using swear words and asked me to get back in the auto so he can ‘leave me where he picked me up’ & that I should raise an issue w/ customer support if I don’t want to pay him Rs 470,” Mallya recounted.
I had a very harrowing and unsettling experience with my @Olacabs booking today in Bangalore
I had booked an Ola Auto which showed a fare range of Rs 347-356 for a ~25km journey(adding the rest as a thread of tweets below)
— Tanisha Mallya (@tanisha_mallya) July 10, 2024
Escalating Situation
After paying the initially quoted fare of Rs 356 and attempting to walk into her apartment gate, Mallya described how the driver created a scene and continued to use abusive language. She mentioned feeling helpless as Ola’s customer support was unresponsive during her distress.
Police and Ola Response
The incident caught the attention of the Bengaluru police, who responded directly to Mallya’s post and urged her to contact them for further action. Many users on X shared similar frustrations, recounting their own encounters with fare discrepancies and confrontations with drivers.
Ola responded to the incident, emphasizing their commitment to passenger safety and promising a thorough investigation. “We take such incidents very seriously and are investigating the matter. Safety of our customers is our top priority,” a spokesperson for Ola stated.
Conclusion
The incident highlights ongoing issues with fare discrepancies and driver conduct in ride-hailing services. The swift responses from both the Bengaluru police and Ola underscore the importance of addressing these concerns to ensure passenger safety and satisfaction.