Pune: Complaints Rise Over Cab Drivers’ Misconduct and Extra Charges for AC Rides

Pune, 3rd November 2025: City commuters are increasingly voicing frustration over alleged misbehaviour and overcharging by aggregator cab drivers, claiming that authorities have failed to act despite repeated assurances. Incidents of passengers being asked to pay extra for air-conditioned rides and facing verbal abuse have become alarmingly common.

In one such case on October 27, an elderly couple travelling from Wakad to Warje in an Uber cab said the driver abused them when they requested to switch on the air conditioner. Their son told Punekar News that the driver demanded extra money, claiming AC and non-AC fares were different.

“The driver told my father that AC rides cost more and said this was as per instructions from the state and central governments. There’s no such rule — every aggregator cab in Pune is air-conditioned. When my father tried to reason with him, the driver started shouting,” he said.
He added that when he tried to intervene over the phone, the driver continued abusing his father.

“The cabbie stopped near Hinjawadi bus stand and demanded that my father cancel the trip. Out of fear, my father complied. We reported the incident to Uber, which assured action, but we haven’t received any update,” he added.

A similar incident took place on October 29, when a Wanowrie resident, booked a cab from Pune railway station. “The driver refused to switch on the AC unless I paid ₹100 extra. When I insisted, he became aggressive, so I ended the ride midway and still paid the full fare of ₹340 out of fear,” he said.

Frequent cab users claim that such malpractices — including inflated fares and refusal to follow aggregator app rules — have become routine, with little accountability.

Last week, Pune Regional Transport Officer (RTO) Archana Gaikwad had announced that the department would take strict action against drivers charging unapproved fares or demanding payments via unauthorised platforms like onlymeter.in. However, she also stated that no formal complaints had been received yet.

An RTO official, who requested anonymity, admitted that enforcement has not yet begun. “The drive to check such violations is still being planned. It is expected to begin shortly, focusing on fare-related complaints,” the official said.

With temperatures still high and humidity levels uncomfortable, commuters argue that being asked to pay extra for air conditioning amounts to exploitation. They have urged both the aggregator companies and the RTO to conduct immediate checks and penalize errant drivers.