Pune, 14 May 2025: A rising number of commuters who use app-based cabs in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad are voicing strong complaints about a growing and troubling trend among Uber, Ola, and Rapido drivers — the use of a dual fare system that conveniently benefits the drivers. Passengers allege that drivers are switching between the fare shown on the ride-hailing app and a third-party website called OnlyMeter.in, and then demanding whichever is higher.
Passengers Shocked by Arbitrary Fares
The issue came to light when Saqib Alam Shaikh, a resident of NIBM Road, booked an Uber from Pune airport to his home. The app showed a fare of ₹400 for the 15km ride, but the driver told him that fares are now based on “meter rates” and asked him to check www.onlymeter.in, a website operated by the Indian Gig Workers’ Front. When the website calculated the fare at ₹370, the driver immediately reverted to the app fare of ₹400 and insisted on that amount. Shaikh, exhausted from travel, paid without arguing.
Another commuter, Anup Singh Naravani, narrated a similar ordeal: “The app fare for my 19 km Ola ride was ₹280, but the driver insisted on ₹500, claiming it was the meter fare. When app pricing surges, they demand that; when the meter fare is higher, they go with that. There’s no logic—only profiteering.”
Dual Fare Practice Began on May 1
The confusion began after May 1, following an announcement by Keshav Kshirsagar, president of the Indian Gig Workers’ Front. He declared that app-based cab drivers would begin using government-approved meter fares similar to autorickshaws — ₹37 for the first 1.5 km and ₹25 per km thereafter. However, there are no physical meters in these cabs, and the fares are being calculated manually by passengers on OnlyMeter.in.
While the Gig Workers’ Front claims the fares are as per RTO guidelines, commuters are raising serious concerns about the legitimacy and transparency of the website.
Payal Mehta, a Pune-based professional, said: “Cab drivers now ask us to open a random website and calculate fares. How do we know it’s approved by the RTO? If they want meter-based pricing, they should install actual meters.”
No Receipts, No Accountability
Many users also report being charged inflated fares without any invoice or official receipt. One commuter, who shared his experience on social media, said: “I booked a ride for ₹505 on the Uber app, but the driver charged ₹900 using the meter website. He promised I would get a bill, but I received nothing.”
RTO Launches Inquiry
In response to the growing number of complaints, the Regional Transport Office (RTO) in Pune has launched an inquiry. RTO officer Archana Gaikwad confirmed that the department had no prior knowledge of the website. “No official request or intimation was submitted by the Gig Workers’ Front,” she said.
Report on RTO Helpline
The RTO has asked affected passengers to submit formal complaints with supporting proof like screenshots and vehicle registration numbers. Complaints can be emailed to [email protected] or sent via WhatsApp to 8275330101.
A senior RTO official stated, “External platforms cannot introduce fare mechanisms without notifying us. All fare systems must be vetted. This kind of unregulated practice causes confusion and hurts consumer trust.”
Gig Workers’ Front Responds
Kshirsagar admitted to TOI that some drivers are misusing the dual fare model, cherry-picking the more profitable one. “They should not engage in such activities. We will instruct our members accordingly,” he said.
Commuters Demand Urgent Regulation
With cab drivers continuing to flip between fare models depending on what benefits them, commuters are urging the RTO and ride-hailing companies like Uber, Ola, and Rapido to impose clear guidelines and crack down on such opportunistic behavior. Until then, passengers remain vulnerable to arbitrary fare manipulation with little recourse or accountability.
