Bengaluru: Rs 100 per kilometre or more was the price commuters were effectively paying for an AC cab in Bengaluru as rain, traffic congestion and surge pricing drove up fares during the ongoing long weekend. With cabs hard to find, many commuters were left waiting for rides, dealing with frequent cancellations or opting for more expensive alternatives.A reality check by TOI on major cab aggregator apps Saturday evening showed that a short, roughly 2-km ride from Residency Road to Church Street cost Rs 221 for an AC cab and Rs 202 for a non-AC cab on Uber. An autorickshaw ride was priced at Rs 105.Rapido quoted Rs 272 for an AC cab, Rs 255 for a non-AC cab and Rs 96 for an autorickshaw. Namma Yatri was relatively cheaper, with an AC cab costing Rs 200, a non-AC cab Rs 196 and an autorickshaw Rs 66 for the same journey.On both Friday and Saturday, premium or priority options for AC cabs and autorickshaws cost at least Rs 30-40 more than the fares quoted for regular options. The higher fares did not necessarily guarantee a quicker ride. Waiting times were at least six to 10 minutes in most cases. Frequent cancellations added to the commuters’ woes.Two major sporting events in the Central Business District (CBD) Saturday — the India-West Indies cricket match and the Bengaluru FC-Chennaiyin FC football match — added to the demand for cabs and to waiting times. Rain that began in the evening also affected cab availability in other parts of the city.“I had to travel from Tumakuru Road to Seshadripuram when it started raining. I checked two apps, and Uber’s AC cab fare was almost Rs 100 more than Rapido’s. However, I couldn’t get a ride on either app even after adding boosters. A trip that would normally cost around Rs 250 was priced at Rs 377 on Uber and Rs 288 on Rapido,” said a commuter, Sparsha NM.The surge in fares was evident Friday evening as well, when many residents were preparing to leave the city for the long weekend. The steep fares were not limited to the CBD. Commuters in other neighbourhoods also reported paying nearly twice their usual fares.“I took a cab from Jayanagar Friday evening for a trip that would normally cost me Rs 150-160. This time, I paid almost Rs 300 — double my usual fare. With cab prices so high, I was forced to take an autorickshaw in the rain,” said commuter Sriharsha M.Rides longer than 15km were costing at least Rs 750 – Rs 1,000, depending on the vehicle being booked on both days.TOI reached out to Uber, Rapido and Namma Yatri, but they were unavailable for comment.
