Pune: Commuters have alleged little action from authorities despite repeated assurances as incidents rise of cab drivers refusing to honour fares displayed on aggregator apps.This despite the new state cab aggregator policy and RTO directing companies to align their apps with fares approved by the state transport department. Commuters said drivers often demanded arbitrary amounts, called passengers after confirmed bookings to insist on higher fares before the journey began.Call centre executive Meghna Dixit said, “Drivers do as they please and authorities are not bothered about stopping them. I booked a cab from MG Road to Kalyaninagar on Saturday. The app showed a fare of Rs150. The driver called and demanded Rs220 as per a meter fare. He could not explain what the meter was or how he had calculated the amount. When I refused, he told me to cancel the ride. This happened twice, before I got a genuine ride.”The delay to frame an cab aggregator policy had allegedly increased the practice of drivers charging fares outside aggregator apps. In 2025, the Indian Gig Workers Front launched onlymeter.in, following which several cab drivers began demanding fares based on the website. The RTO suspended the website in March, but commuters said fare-related fleecing had continued and even worsened.Bank employee Yashodhar Singh said, “The distance from Salunke Vihar Road to the airport is around 14km, but the driver claimed it was 23km based on a route I was unaware of. The app showed Rs310, but he demanded Rs535. I had a flight to catch and had no option, but to pay.”Citizens said drivers were increasingly calling passengers after bookings to demand higher fares and cancelling or forcing passengers to cancel rides if they refused. “I booked a cab from Vimannagar to FC Road, a few days ago. The driver called and demanded meter fare. I told him I would pay only what the app showed. He told me to cancel. When I refused, he shouted at me and cancelled the ride himself,” said IT professional Siddharth Priyank.Pune regional transport officer Archana Gaikwad said action would be taken against drivers violating the rules. “How can they talk about such fares when these cabs have no meter? We have directed companies to adjust their fare systems according to RTA-approved rates for cabs. If drivers are fleecing passengers, they will face consequences,” she said.Commuters remained sceptical. “Authorities have been assuring us for almost two years, but cab drivers continue to supe passengers without any fear. We don’t want drivers who mislead or exploit commuters,” said Kuldeep Sawant, a private sector employee.
