The Karnataka government on Thursday, 1 April, increased the minimum fares for all app-hailed cab services like Uber and Ola running in Bengaluru and rest of the state. With this modification, the minimum fare for a cab ride will now be Rs 75.
The price caps have been put in place based on the cost of the vehicles which often corresponds to the types of the vehicle – hatchback, sedan and SUV. The aggregators have also priced their services based on these three variants.
What Are the New Fares?
- For vehicle value till Rs 5 lakh, the minimum fare upto 4 km is Rs 75, additional fare per kilometre can be between Rs 18 and Rs 36.
- For vehicle value between Rs 5 lakh and 10 lakh, the minimum fare upto 4 km is Rs 100, additional fare per kilometre can be between Rs 21 and Rs 42.
- For vehicle value between Rs 10 lakh and16 lakh, the minimum fare upto 4 km is Rs 120, additional fare per kilometre can be between Rs 24 and Rs 48
- For vehicle value between Rs 16 lakh and more, the minimum fare upto 4 km is Rs 150, additional fare per kilometre can be between Rs 27 and Rs 54
- In addition to these fares, some operators usually ask customers to pay GST of 5 percent and a booking or convenience fee.
What Prompted the Change?
The decision from the government comes after protests were held on Wednesday prompted by the death of one 34-year-old airport cab driver.
Prathap Kumar K succumbed to his injuries after he had immolated himself at the airport premises on Tuesday, in protest of the financial distress indirectly due to low prices of Ola and Uber.
Prathap was driving a KSTDC airport taxi. Drivers like him were suffering as customers were choosing Uber and Ola for their cheaper rates. Meanwhile, app-hailed cab drivers were also unhappy with the prices as they were left short changed in wake of high fuel prices.
In February, fares of non-app hailed cab fares were also revised. With that, for non-air conditioned taxis, the rate for the first four kilometres will be fixed at Rs 75, after which passengers will be charged Rs 18 per kilometre. For air conditioned taxis, the rate for the first four kilometres will be Rs 100, and Rs 24 for each subsequent kilometre.
(This story has been published in an arrangement with The News Minute.)
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)