Kolkata: Many app cabs go offline to run shuttle services

KOLKATA: The revised fare in app cabs came into effect in the city from Thursday. But the surge fare overshadowed the fare revision with demand for cabs exceeding its availability during the peak hours when there were more commuters on roads due to further relaxations in restrictions.
Many cabs went off line to operate shuttle services and earn a quick buck. However, the commuters were happy to get cabs on their doorsteps.
Online Cab Operators Guild secretary Indranil Banerjee said, “The fare was higher during peak hours to attract more cabbies. But the cabbies went offline as the fare flattened and many ran shuttle services.”
The transport secretary sent a “show-cause” letter to Uber, one of the two major app cab aggregators. According to the transport department, Uber officials got in touch with Paribahan Bhawan officials, expressing their idea of increasing the fare. “We asked them to write us a letter, explaining the rationale behind it. But before they intimated it officially, they revised the fare,” said a senior transport department official. The fare from New Alipore to Howrah was being shown Rs 650, almost double the regular fare. “Since I did not have much luggage, I chose a bike taxi instead,” said Swarup Ghosh, who was travelling to Tatanagar by the morning train. With the progress of the day, the fare remained high. From Bhawanipore to Shyambazar, the fare was as high as Rs 450. “It was a bit shocking as I always travel by Metro, spending a much lower fare,” said Jolly Basu, a bank employee.