A Bengaluru woman’s viral post has ignited fresh outrage over the stark gap between meter and app-based auto fares. Aditi Srivastava shared her experience on social media, revealing that her 2.6 km journey cost just Rs 39 on the meter, while the same ride booked through an app charged her an astonishing Rs 172.45.
Her tweet read, “The fare on meter versus Uber. Without your own vehicle in Bangalore, you’re stuck.”
The comparison resonated widely, striking a chord with countless commuters frustrated by erratic ride-hailing charges and unreliable bike taxi options. Many called app fares “exploitative,” urging for a fairer and transparent pricing model.
Several users argued that even owning a private car doesn’t help much, citing low fuel efficiency in Bengaluru’s chronic traffic jams. One commented that platforms like Ola and Uber have few takers now, while Rapido and Namma Yatri still demand fares three to four times higher.
Another pointed out, “Uber calculates prices by supply-demand while meter rates are government-fixed. However, the government and auto unions prevent a fair system by banning bike taxis and sidelining non-local autos.”
Some observed that lately, Uber fares have matched meter rates, but drivers simply refuse rides, forcing passengers to pay inflated prices on other apps.
This incident has rekindled demands for stricter regulations to curb arbitrary surges and protect consumers from such price disparities.