Mumbai, Sep 23 – Cab drivers in Maharashtra, affiliated with ride-hailing platforms such as Ola, Uber, and Rapido, have commenced charging passengers according to newly government-notified fares, which are significantly higher than previous rates, as reported by their union.

Dr. Keshav Nana Kshirsagar, president of the Bharatiya Gig Kamgar Manch, stated that cab drivers opted to implement the official tariff independently due to aggregator companies’ failure to adhere to the directive issued by assistant transport commissioner Bharat Kalaskar, who also serves as secretary of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Transport Authority (MMRTA).

Under the new fare structure, drivers of hatchbacks like the WagonR are charging Rs 28 per kilometer, while sedan drivers, such as those operating Swift Dzires, are charging Rs 31 per kilometer. Drivers of SUVs like the Ertiga are charging Rs 34 per kilometer, according to Kshirsagar.

To promote transparency, the union has launched a website, http://www.onlymeter.in, displaying the official fare table. The Regional Transport Authority (RTA) for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) had previously issued a letter to the three app-based taxi and auto rickshaw aggregators—Ola, Uber, and Rapido—last week, instructing them to adhere to Black-and-Yellow cab fares until the state finalizes separate rates for app-based cabs, effective from September 18.

According to the MMRTA letter dated September 16, the existing fare for Black and Yellow taxis is set at Rs 20.66 per kilometer for non-AC vehicles and Rs 22.72 per kilometer for AC vehicles. These base rates will remain in effect until the fares for app-based taxis and auto rickshaws are determined.

The union’s decision to implement government-notified fares has resulted in increased costs for commuters, as previous base fares for small cabs ranged from Rs 15 to Rs 16. However, some cab drivers have claimed they continue to charge the fares displayed in the aggregator apps.

The Maharashtra Gig Kamgar Manch has called for a rationalization of fares to align them with conventional Black & Yellow metered cabs, a ban on bike taxis, a limit on permits for Black and Yellow cabs and auto rickshaws, the establishment of a welfare board for app-based cab drivers, and the enactment of the Maharashtra Gig Workers’ Act, similar to legislation in other states.

Kshirsagar also alleged that the state transport department has issued provisional licenses to companies against which it has filed FIRs for operating illegal bike taxis, claiming these licenses are being misused to operate white number plate bikes running on petrol instead of e-bikes registered in the transport category.

“Rather than blacklisting these companies, the government has granted one-month provisional licenses, effectively providing them with preferential treatment,” Kshirsagar stated.

Maharashtra’s transport commissioner Vivek Bhimanwar and additional transport commissioner Kalaskar did not respond to calls and messages seeking their comments.