A decision of the Karnataka government has become a sore throat for autorickshaw drivers associated with cab aggregators like Ola-Uber.
On December 25, the government ordered regional transport authorities to charge app-based auto aggregators a five per cent convenience fee plus GST for every ride. Auto drivers say that this can cause harm to auto rickshaw drivers and passengers. Ola Uber Drivers and Owners Association (OUDOA) has accused the government of not properly placing the matter before the High Court.
Auto drivers say that the fixed fare does not seem very high, but it is difficult to predict how these companies will charge the convenience fee from the people. He says that Ola-Uber companies were charging very high fees, due to which the government had to intervene. We don’t know how to follow the new order.
According to a report in Media , UDOA chief Tanveer Pasha blamed the Karnataka government for not presenting the matter properly before the Karnataka High Court. Tanveer said that the government should have amended the Karnataka On-Demand Transportation Technology Aggregators Rules, as there is no provision for autorickshaws.
Pasha said that if the Transport Department had given correct information to the High Court, the court would have directed the government to amend the rule. The transport department also did not take the Regional Transport Authority of Bengaluru Urban district on board.
The minimum fare is Rs 30.
The Karnataka government has fixed the fare for autorickshaws. The minimum charge is Rs.30 and above that Rs.15 per kilometer can be charged. Thimmappa, an autorickshaw driver, said that this fixed fare does not seem very high, but it is difficult to estimate how these companies will charge people.
Venkatesh, another autorickshaw driver. Ann said that now only time will tell how the rates will be fixed on each ride and how people will be charged. When contacted a member of the public relations department of Ola Cabs declined to comment on the matter.
