Transport dept puts brakes on surge fares of app-based cab operators

Kolkata: Putting a cap on surge fares in app cab services, the state Transport department has taken a decision, stipulating that the operators cannot charge surge fares during office hours on weekdays.

There was a high level meeting, in which the top brass of the state Transport department and authorities of Ola and Uber were present. Suvendu Adhikari, the state Transport minister, along with senior officers of his department, discussed the issues related to surge fares with the app cab operators.

It may be mentioned that the state Transport department had been receiving repeated complaints of high surge fares for the past few months. As a result, the state Transport department had initiated steps to seek a way out of the imbroglio and held meetings with authorities of the app cab operators.

The state government has also decided that surge fares cannot cross 45 percent of the basic fares.

The basic fares of the app cab services has to be announced as well, so that the state Transport department is aware of it and people also come to know the basic fare that they have to pay to avail the cabs.

Since there will be no surge fare during office hours on weekdays, it cannot be charged for 12 hours a day from 8 am in the morning to 8 pm in the evening. It has been learnt that a portion of the surge fare has to be given to drivers as well.

Usually, the fares go up when the demand is more and the supply of cabs is less.

The app cab operators have to give a report containing details of the fare slab to the state Transport department on Thursday. There will also be a review meeting after every three months.

According to an official of the state Transport department, it seems that people will not come up with allegations anymore, once all the decisions are implemented.

It may be mentioned that the app cab operators were also directed to take certain measures to ensure the safety and security of passengers.