Bengaluru: Commuters in Bengaluru are reeling under a double fare shock, as leading app-based transport services allegedly compel users to pay tips ranging from ₹10 to ₹100 just to get a ride. Platforms like Ola, Uber, Namma Yatri, and Rapido are in the spotlight for turning optional tipping into a quasi-mandatory charge, sparking outrage among passengers and auto drivers alike.
Passengers feel ‘held hostage’ during peak hours
A growing number of app users have reported being unable to secure rides unless a tip is added during booking. “If you don’t add a tip, no driver accepts the booking,” said Manjunath, a daily commuter. “It’s as if the apps hold you hostage when you’re in a hurry.”
This tipping system has become a hidden fare multiplier, particularly during peak hours or emergency travel, turning what was once a cost-effective service into a costly necessity.
Drivers oppose the tipping mandate
Interestingly, even auto drivers have criticised the system, calling it unfair and misleading. “We don’t ask for tips. We are willing to go by the meter,” said Shekhar, a local auto driver. “These apps are spoiling the relationship between drivers and passengers.”
Driver unions argue that the tipping system is a ploy by aggregators to charge users more, while not passing the full tip to drivers. Instead, a portion is taken as commission, further fuelling distrust.
Aggregators under legal scrutiny, but loopholes remain
Amid mounting complaints, the central government issued a notice to aggregator companies earlier, warning them against such exploitative practices. However, the companies continue to operate in a legal grey area, as they are not classified as transport carriers under existing laws. This regulatory gap has allowed them to continue imposing tipping options, often disguised as incentives.
Raghu Narayana Gowda, president of the Peace Auto and Cab Association, slammed the practice, saying, “Aggregator companies are not transport service providers. Then how are they allowed to impose such charges on the public?”
Urban middle class hit the hardest
The middle-class commuters, who form a large segment of daily users, are bearing the brunt. With inflation and high cost of living, even a small extra charge on every ride adds up. “This feels like an unofficial tax on daily travel,” said a commuter from Whitefield.
The forced tipping has prompted a public outcry for stronger regulation. Many are urging the state and central governments to categorise aggregator companies as regulated public transport services, with clear rules on fare structures and add-on charges.
What lies ahead?
Until stricter oversight is in place, commuters will remain vulnerable to opaque pricing systems that blur the lines between incentives and extortion. A service once hailed for its affordability and ease has now become a source of financial and psychological stress.