Bengaluru commuters report auto fares far above the official meter rate

A Bengaluru auto ride officially priced at ₹36 for the first 2km is often being quoted at ₹70-100, commuters say, particularly when they try to hail one for a short trip.

The gap is also visible on apps. Passengers report base fares of about ₹65-70 on Namma Yatri, before charges such as pickup, waiting, per-stop and congestion fees. On a check on Tuesday evening, auto options from Richmond Road to Silk Board bus stand ranged from ₹215 to ₹336 on Namma Yatri; other platforms quoted roughly ₹240 to ₹340.

The pressure has grown as enforcement against privately registered motorcycles operating as bike taxis has reduced a lower-cost option for last-mile travel. Regional transport offices have impounded more than 500 two-wheelers and booked cases against owners, prompting many riders to stop taking bookings.

For commuters such as Farshin Azeez, who travels from Bommanahalli to Jayanagar, that has meant replacing a roughly ₹110 bike-taxi trip with an auto ride costing ₹190-230. Transport Minister Byrathi Suresh said the bike-taxi matter is before the Supreme Court and declined to comment on fare complaints.