Odd-even: Delhi govt impounds 25 Ola, Uber cabs for surge pricing
Facing the heat, aggregators Ola and Uber on Monday evening suspended the surge-pricing option
The Delhi government on the fifth day of its odd-even experiment on Tuesday impounded 25 Ola and Uber vehicles for surge pricing.
Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal had on Monday warned of action after complaints of overcharging against Ola and Uber during peak hours.
Sources said the government may summon Ola and Uber executives. The transport department’s enforcement team has been ordered to check cab bills and investigate surge pricing.
“The impounded vehicles face a fine of R 5,000 and a life ban. We are monitoring all complaints and conducting surprise checks on commercial vehicles,” said a senior transport officer.
Also read: Odd-even 2.0: Uber, Ola suspend surge pricing after Delhi govt threat
The government on Monday evening also started a helpline for aggrieved commuters.
On Monday morning, many commuters took to Twitter and other social media platforms to vent their anger.
A woman working for an IT company was charged R 1,200 for a ride from Noida to Connaught Place. Similar complaints were shared on social media with most commuters posting screen grabs of the prices.
Kejriwal tweeted on Monday,“Strict action, incl permit cancellation n impounding vehicle, to be taken against taxis which charge rates more than govt prescribed rates.”(sic)
Facing the heat, aggregators Ola and Uber on Monday evening suspended the surge-pricing system. Ola said they were suspending it to support the government’s odd-even experiment.
“We have temporarily suspended the surge-in-price option but this is not for the entire two weeks of odd-even. We will be closely working with the government to see how to serve customers better,” said an Uber spokesperson.