According to Uber’s new policy for auto-rickshaws, which came into effect at the end of March in Pune, the fare displayed on the mobile application is only indicative. The actual amount passengers pay is based on the meter reading. Previously, passengers relied on the app’s fixed pricing.
Following the change in fare policy, Punekars have taken to social media to raise concerns over possible meter rigging, with several commuters reporting instances of being overcharged.
Sharing a video on Reddit, one user wrote, “Can someone help me identify if the meter is rigged or not? I just finished my ride and distance-wise it’s fine. Matches the Google Maps distance. Also, there was no sudden spike. I even asked the driver, and he said, ‘Sir, aise hi hota hai.’ I was just concerned about the blinking light at the bottom left, below ‘DIST.’ Overall: 11.8 km, ₹205, 2 min and some seconds wait time.”
Another user also posted a video asking, “Is this meter rigged?”
Meanwhile, Reddit users commented that “most of the meters are tampered with.”
“It’s an unstated rule in Pune—most auto-rickshaw meters are tampered with,” one user claimed.
“99% of meters are rigged. That’s why these rickshawalas have stopped using Ola/Uber and insist on going by meter since April 1,” another user wrote.
“It happened to me too. I took an autorickshaw via Uber and ended up paying more than I would have for a sedan cab. The distance was just around 6.7 km,” a third user shared.
A fourth user quipped, “I had to pay ₹100 for 5 km yesterday. It’s most certainly tampered—there’s really nothing we can do except stop using autos altogether.”
