Auto Fares Surge in Bengaluru as Bike Taxis Vanish from Roads

BangaloreBeat News | June 18, 2025 | Bengaluru

Commuters Scramble for Affordable Options Following Crackdown

A sudden spike in auto-rickshaw fares across Bengaluru has left thousands of daily commuters scrambling for alternatives, days after the Karnataka transport department cracked down on bike taxi services. With popular platforms like Rapido halting services in compliance with state orders, the withdrawal of bike taxis has exposed glaring gaps in the city's last-mile connectivity.

Many commuters reported auto fares doubling or even tripling during peak hours in central and tech corridor zones like MG Road, Whitefield, and Electronic City. What was earlier a ₹30-₹50 ride on a bike taxi has now ballooned to ₹100-₹150 in an auto, often without the meter running.

Previous article: Karnataka’s Bike-Taxi Ban Takes Effect: Commuters Stuck, Drivers Jobless, Platforms in a Legal Grey Zone

Auto Drivers Capitalise, Commuters Bear the Brunt

The ban appears to have tilted the fare dynamics heavily in favour of auto drivers. "Earlier, we had options. If an auto driver refused or overcharged, we’d just book a bike taxi and reach on time," said Shruti Rao, a content writer commuting daily from Indiranagar to Domlur. “Now, I end up wasting 15 minutes bargaining or waiting.”

Several auto drivers, now sensing reduced competition, have stopped following meter fares and charge flat rates even for short trips. Commuters allege that many autos are declining app-based bookings altogether.

“We are not against bike taxis, but they were operating illegally. Auto drivers have to pay for permits and follow the law,” said M Manjunath, President of the Adarsh Auto and Taxi Drivers’ Union. However, when asked about the recent fare hikes, he brushed it off as “market adjustments.”

Techies, Students, and Gig Workers Hit Hard

The impact of the ban has been especially harsh on Bengaluru’s large population of tech workers, students, and gig economy employees — many of whom relied on bike taxis as an affordable, quick, and flexible mode of transport.

“I work as a delivery executive and used bike taxis to reach pick-up points faster. Now, I spend almost double in autos and still get delayed,” said Salman, a Swiggy delivery partner from HSR Layout.

For college students and interns who often live on shoestring budgets, the added transport cost is proving unsustainable. “Even share autos are expensive now, and BMTC buses are not frequent in all areas,” said Anjali, a student at Christ University.

Legal Grey Area and the App-Based Dilemma

While bike taxis have remained in a regulatory grey zone for years, they became a go-to solution during the pandemic, offering contactless, solo rides and reducing congestion. Platforms like Rapido claim to have over 1 lakh riders in Bengaluru alone.

Following the state’s action, Rapido has paused bike taxi operations but continues to offer auto services. Meanwhile, rivals Ola and Uber have remained non-committal. Some users claim they can still see bike taxi options on these apps, though availability is erratic.

The transport department maintains that operating non-transport vehicles (with white number plates) for commercial purposes violates the Motor Vehicles Act. Enforcement has been stepped up, with many riders fined and their vehicles seized in the past week.

Experts Warn of Larger Urban Mobility Crisis

Urban transport experts believe the ban exposes a deeper failure to create inclusive, affordable, and multimodal transport systems in Bengaluru. “Instead of outright bans, the government should look at regulating bike taxis and integrating them into the public transport ecosystem,” said Rajeev Gowda, urban mobility researcher at IIMB.

With metro expansion still underway and BMTC buses often overcrowded or delayed, last-mile connectivity remains a gaping hole in the city’s transport map. “Banning without offering viable alternatives only shifts the problem, not solves it,” Gowda added.

What Next for Riders and Platforms?

As of now, Rapido is exploring legal options and has petitioned the state government for a structured policy. Meanwhile, commuters are left waiting — literally — for fairer, faster rides.

The transport department has not issued a timeline for reviewing its decision, and discussions with stakeholders remain stalled. Meanwhile, fare hikes and refusal of service continue to dominate daily commute complaints.

Until clarity emerges, the roads of Bengaluru will remain a battleground — not just of traffic, but of affordability and access.