Regular commuters in Bengaluru are complaining of a new kind of scam involving autorickshaw drivers on ride-hailing platforms.
Drivers have been accused of deliberately stopping 100 to 150 metres away from the designated pick-up point and marking themselves as ‘arrived’ on the aggregator app, triggering the waiting fee before passengers even reach the vehicle.
Several users have taken to social media and lodged complaints with aggregator platforms over being unfairly charged. Passengers said they often spend several minutes persuading drivers to come to the exact location, only to find that the fare has already increased by the time the ride begins.
Arpita Rao, a resident of Bilekahalli, said this issue has occurred during multiple recent rides. “In the past couple of bookings, I noticed that the auto driver stopped about 100 to 150 metres away from the pick-up point and marked the ride as ‘arrived’. This immediately starts the waiting timer on the app. I had to call and convince him to come to the actual spot, and by the time I boarded, I was already charged a waiting fee.”
Unfair fare: How passengers are affected (Optional)
Auto drivers allegedly stop 100–150 metres away and mark “arrived,” starting waiting fees before passengers board.
Waiting charges start accumulating even before boarding.
Commuters spend several minutes convincing drivers to come to the exact location.
Total fare increases unfairly due to additional waiting time.
For some, the experience has been especially distressing. Ishant Dev, a resident of Bommanahalli, said he faced the problem just two days after being discharged from a hospital. “The auto stopped on the other side of the road and asked me to cross over. I was carrying luggage and wasn’t in a condition to do so. He refused to come to my side, started the waiting timer, and by the time I went to board the vehicle, extra waiting charges had already been added. This isn’t fair. The drivers are doing this just to make more money,” he said.
Shivraj N. from BTM Layout said he has been facing similar issues for over a year. “Just a few days ago, I noticed the auto a little away from my location and walked to it. I boarded within the grace time, but the driver refused to start the ride. He stood chatting with another driver while the waiting timer kept ticking. He finally entered the OTP after five minutes. Aggregator companies should fix this loophole. The waiting time should only start once the driver is within 10 metres of the pick-up or after the passenger confirms via a notification,” he suggested.
Waiting charges
The waiting charges on most aggregator platforms range between ₹1 and ₹2 a minute. An official from one of the aggregator companies acknowledged that they have received multiple complaints. “We are looking into the issue. Passengers can report such incidents through the app, and action will be taken against the driver if found responsible,” the official said.
The aggregator companies have yet to clarify whether the system auto-triggers arrival or relies on the driver’s manual input. Meanwhile, T.M. Rudramurthy, general secretary of the Auto Rickshaw Drivers’ Union, said that the union has not received any complaints regarding such issues so far.
Published – November 07, 2025 10:33 pm IST
