Bengaluru cab fares rose to Rs 100 per kilometre or more during the long weekend as rain, traffic congestion and surge pricing pushed up the cost of short trips, while commuters continued to face cancellations and long waits without any guarantee of getting a ride.
A Times of India check of major cab aggregator apps on Saturday evening found that a roughly 2-km journey from Residency Road to Church Street was priced at Rs 221 for an air-conditioned cab and Rs 202 for a non-air-conditioned cab on Uber. An autorickshaw on the platform was priced at Rs 105.
Rapido quoted Rs 272 for an AC cab, Rs 255 for a non-AC cab and Rs 96 for an autorickshaw for the same route. Namma Yatri was comparatively cheaper, listing an AC cab at Rs 200, a non-AC cab at Rs 196 and an autorickshaw at Rs 66.
The higher fares did not necessarily translate into faster pickups. Waiting times were at least six to 10 minutes in most cases, while commuters also reported frequent cancellations. Premium or priority options for AC cabs and autorickshaws cost at least Rs 30-40 more than regular options on Friday and Saturday.
Demand was particularly high in Bengaluru’s central business district on Saturday, where the India-West Indies cricket match and a Bengaluru FC-Chennaiyin FC football match were held. Rain that began in the evening further affected cab availability in other parts of the city.
One commuter, Sparsha NM, told Times of India that a journey from Tumakuru Road to Seshadripuram became difficult after rain began. Uber’s fare was nearly Rs 100 higher than Rapido’s, but a ride could not be secured on either platform even after boosters were added. A trip that normally cost around Rs 250 was priced at Rs 377 on Uber and Rs 288 on Rapido.
The pressure was also visible on Friday evening, when residents were preparing to leave the city for the long weekend. Sriharsha M, a commuter from Jayanagar, said a trip that usually cost Rs 150-160 was priced at nearly Rs 300. He told the newspaper that he took an autorickshaw instead, despite the rain.
The fare increase was not limited to the central areas. Rides longer than 15 km were costing between Rs 750 and Rs 1,000, depending on the vehicle and platform selected, according to the report.
The episode highlights how Bengaluru’s app-based transport network can become difficult to access precisely when demand rises because of weather, traffic and large public events. Higher prices offered through priority options still did not assure commuters of a vehicle or a quicker pickup. Times of India said it contacted Uber, Rapido and Namma Yatri for comment, but the companies were unavailable.
