The aftermath of Bengaluru’s bike taxi ban continues to hit commuters hard, with rising autorickshaw fares, forced tipping, and growing frustration. Despite Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy’s warning against unlawful fare practices, both auto drivers and aggregator platforms are blatantly ignoring official pricing norms.
With bike taxis off the roads, fares for short-distance trips have nearly doubled. Commuters reveal that drivers now either reject bookings without digital tips or demand extra cash post-trip, citing traffic or fuel expenses. A TOI check revealed a JP Nagar to Mysore Bank Circle trip, which typically costs ₹150, now stands at ₹210 on ride apps. Drivers often demand a ₹30 tip and make passengers wait up to 15 minutes before accepting.
Harika KV, a 23-year-old intern, shared that rides now take longer to secure and are no longer affordable. “Auto drivers only agree if we add a tip,” she said. Similarly, ride-hailing apps now include hidden fees like congestion surcharges and optional tips (₹10–₹100), which are often essential to get a ride.
Vinay M from Indiranagar noted drivers frequently cancel bookings or insist on offline payments. “Once I had to pay double to avoid being late,” he recalled. Even prepaid auto stands have become unreliable, with drivers demanding ₹30–₹60 above meter rates.
Students are among the worst affected. Vivan R Goyal, 16, questioned the rationale: “Why remove an affordable service and leave us with this?”
Auto drivers admit to raising fares to compensate for lost income, while officials suggest legalizing bike taxis may be wiser than banning them outright.