Bengaluru: A Bengaluru software engineer’s account of an unpleasant auto-rickshaw ride has gone viral on social media, triggering fresh discussions about alleged extra fare demands and payment preferences among app-based auto drivers.
Dhanush Nehru, who said he had recently returned to Bengaluru after a long break, described the incident as a “peak Bengaluru moment” in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
Driver allegedly demanded extra fare
According to Dhanush, he had booked an auto through the Ola app for a journey lasting nearly an hour. He claimed the driver demanded extra money even before the ride began.
To avoid an argument, Dhanush said he agreed to discuss the matter after reaching the destination. However, another disagreement reportedly arose when he attempted to pay the fare in cash.
The driver allegedly refused to accept the cash and insisted on payment through the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), reportedly asking, “Am I a beggar?” when offered physical currency.
Dhanush said he apologised to avoid a public confrontation but ultimately declined to pay the additional amount the driver had requested before the trip.
Post triggers online discussion
The software engineer concluded his post by questioning whether app-based auto drivers were permitted to demand additional money before commencing rides and whether refusing cash payments had become common practice.
The post quickly gained traction, attracting more than three lakh views and prompting numerous users to share similar experiences involving app-based cab and auto services.
Some users claimed they had faced demands for extra charges from drivers and later received refunds after lodging complaints with ride-hailing platforms. Others expressed surprise that the disagreement centred on the mode of payment rather than the additional fare.
The incident has once again highlighted commuter concerns over fare disputes, payment methods and adherence to ride-hailing platform policies by app-based transport operators