Bengaluru: Commuters and autorickshaw drivers in Bengaluru have raised concerns over persistent navigation errors on the Ola app, claiming that inaccurate map locations and technical glitches have led to wrong destinations, delays and additional travel expenses over the past week.

Several users reported facing difficulties while travelling to Freedom Park in Gandhi Nagar during the recent youth protests, with some rides ending far from the intended destination due to incorrect map pins.

Commuters reach wrong destinations

Shravani, a resident of Indiranagar, said she booked an Ola auto to Freedom Park on Sunday but was instead dropped in Sadashivanagar after relying on the app’s navigation.

“I had never been to Freedom Park before. My friends told me it was in Gandhi Nagar, so I entered the location on the Ola app. When I reached, there was no Freedom Park in sight. The incorrect location cost me around ₹200,” she said.

Users pointed out that searching for Freedom Park on the Ola app displayed two map pins with the same address on Sheshadri Road, Gandhi Nagar. While one directed users to the correct location, the other led them to Sadashivanagar.

No option to change destination

Another commuter, Ayesha Anisha, said the problem was made worse because the Ola app does not allow passengers to modify the destination once the ride has begun.

“If the driver is unwilling to help, passengers are left stranded at the wrong location,” she said.

Auto drivers report frequent mapping issues

Autorickshaw drivers also claimed that navigation errors have become increasingly common. Syed, an auto driver, recalled a recent trip where a passenger travelling from Richmond Town to MG Road was instead directed towards Koramangala after the ride began.

Another driver operating mainly in Bengaluru’s Central Business District (CBD) said he had encountered several similar routing errors in recent days.

Concerns over Ola Maps continue

Ola has been using Ola Maps since 2024 after introducing it as an alternative to Google Maps. However, users have continued to report inaccurate routing and location errors since its launch.

The company declined to comment on the latest complaints.