Maximum cap for app based cabs should be 1.5-2 times original fare: Report

Base fares of app-based cabs have been recommended to be higher than kaali peelis and rickshaws. While Ola charges Rs 6 per kilometre, Uber charges Rs 8 per kilometre. (Representational Image)

A committee headed by senior state government official B S Khatua has recommended that the maximum cap on fares of cab aggregators, including Ola and Uber, should be 1.5-2 times the original fare of the ride. The report, including the recommendations, was submitted to state Transport Minister Diwakar Raote on Monday evening.
The committee has also advised an increase in the base fare of kaali peelis and rickshaws in the city by 0.50 paise-Re 1, which means the highest base fares for rickshaw could be Rs 19, from Rs 18 at present, and for kaali peelis it could go up to Rs 23 from Rs 22 at present.

Base fares of app-based cabs have been recommended to be higher than kaali peelis and rickshaws. While Ola charges Rs 6 per kilometre, Uber charges Rs 8 per kilometre. “The base fare of Ola and Uber has not been fixed considering they can adjudge their minimum price according to their model of calculation which can benefit the service. They need to follow the highest cap bracket which can curb surge pricing,” an official said.

The Khatua Committee was formed in October last year after the state government decided to put a maximum and minimum cap on fare charged by cab aggregators. The committee was finalising the fare slabs for taxis, rickshaws and app-based cabs.

“We have also suggested a happy hour scheme for kaali peeli and rickshaw drivers where they can be allowed to reduce their base fare during non-peak hours in the afternoon. Kaali peelis, fitted with air conditioners, can charge 20 percent higher than the total cost,” a source dealing with the report said.

Welfare scheme for drivers, which include insurance policies, have been suggested. Rickshaws can be fitted with electronic response devices for commuters to submit feedback. The fares of kaali peelis and rickshaws were revised last in 2012 after recommendations from the Hakim Committee.