Bengaluru: The humble autorickshaw, once the go-to option for a quick and affordable last-mile ride in the tech capital, is increasingly coming with a steep price tag. A ride that officially costs Rs 36 for the first 2km is routinely being quoted at Rs 70-100, leaving commuters with little choice but to bargain or pay up.Across the city, passengers say many auto drivers have stopped accepting metered fares, particularly for short-distance trips. Street-hailing an auto for a ride of less than 2km can now mean paying nearly 2-3 times the govt-prescribed rate. Commuters also report being asked to pay “extra” or “booster” fares even when they request a metered ride.The problem extends to app-based services. In several instances, commuters say the base fare displayed on platforms such as Namma Yatri is around Rs 65-70, despite the prescribed fare being Rs 36 for the first 2km and Rs 18 for every subsequent kilometre. Aggregators also add charges such as pickup, waiting, per-stop and congestion-related fees, pushing the final fare further above the regulated rate.The squeeze has become more pronounced following the transport department’s crackdown on bike taxis. With regional transport offices (RTOs) across the city stepping up enforcement, more than 500 two-wheelers have been impounded and cases booked against owners using privately registered motorcycles for commercial passenger services.Fearing penalties, attacks by auto drivers, licence suspension, and cancellation of registration certificates, many bike-taxi riders have stopped accepting bookings. For commuters, this has meant fewer affordable travel options and greater dependence on autos.The impact is particularly visible on short trips. A commuter who might earlier have taken a bike taxi for Rs 30-50 is now often left with an auto as the only readily available alternative. With fewer choices, passengers say drivers have greater bargaining power, especially for short-distance journeys.App-based fares can be even higher. A check Tuesday evening showed Namma Yatri quoting Rs 336 for an Auto Priority ride and Rs 215 for an Auto Easy Commute ride from Richmond Road to Silk Board bus stand. Rapido showed fares of around Rs 340 and Rs 260, depending on the option, while Uber quoted about Rs 240 for the same journey.The situation has left commuters facing a contradiction: Bengaluru officially has a regulated auto fare, but the price they encounter on the road can be substantially higher. While the transport department’s crackdown was aimed at enforcing rules governing bike taxis, commuters say it has had the unintended effect of strengthening the bargaining position of auto drivers by removing one affordable alternative.Transport minister Byrathi Suresh, when asked about complaints against auto drivers and aggregators over excessive fares, said: “The bike taxi issue is now before the Supreme Court, and I have no comments.”For commuters, however, the issue goes beyond bike taxis. If Rs 36 is the official fare for the first 2km, they ask, why has Rs 70-100 become the price they are increasingly expected to pay?Commuters speakNithyaa Bharadwaj | 19, literature studentI used to travel from Kamakya to Shantinagar for around Rs 70, while an auto ride now costs nearly Rs 230. As a student, travelling by bus takes much longer and is exhausting, especially when I have early classes. Bike taxis take only around 20 minutes and offer reliable last-mile connectivity. Govt should bring them back with proper regulations, safety measures and fare control. They are particularly useful for students and those who cannot afford expensive autosKarthik Reddy | 33, techieOver the Ppast two weeks, auto fares have risen sharply. I usually travel from Seetharampalya to my office in Brookefield, and the fare has increased from Rs 48-50 to nearly Rs 70. Most autos don’t follow the meter, leaving commuters at the drivers’ mercy. Govt should introduce a fare cap or a basic pricing structure to prevent arbitrary chargesGokulan Chinnasamy | 28, techieI commute from Hosur to Bengaluru by train three days a week, paying just Rs 10 to reach Bellandur in about 45 minutes. But the 5km ride from Bellandur station to my office now costs over Rs 200, compared with Rs 110-120 earlier. Autos often demand booster charges too. It’s absurdFarshin Azeez | 24, marketing managerI usually take a bike taxi, which costs around Rs 110, from Bommanahalli to Jayanagar. Now that they’re not available, I have to take autos, and they’re charging Rs 190-230. So, I’m basically paying almost double for the same ride. It’s getting difficult to manage this every daySai Lakshmi | 24, office-goerI recently started working and usually travel from Bommanahalli to Koramangala. Bike taxis were convenient and cost me just Rs 60-70, especially with no proper Metro connectivity from my PG. Now, with bike taxis unavailable, autos are charging around Rs 250 a trip. It is really burning a hole in my pocket — I’ve already exhausted my travel budget and may have to borrow from my parents
