Ola, Uber Drivers Asking for Extra Fare in Pune? Residents Share Experiences; What the Maharashtra Rules Say

Pune, 9th November 2026: Several Pune residents have posted on X in the past few days that drivers on Ola and Uber are asking them to pay the driver’s own fare instead of the price shown in the app.

One rider says she was asked for Rs 400 extra on an Uber intercity trip to Mumbai. Another says almost every ride she booked came with such a demand.

The complaints come during Diwali week, when demand for cabs and autos peaks and many riders have little choice.

What Pune riders say happened

• @Rushu_Tushu wrote on 7 November that almost every Ola and Uber ride she booked came with a driver asking her to pay by his own fare instead of the app price, at about Rs 30 per km. She said she paid because she was in a hurry.
• @wise_humans posted on 8 November that in Pune, Ola drivers accept a booking and then say “meter pe chalana padega”, meaning their own fixed charge, and refuse to cancel because they know the rider is in a hurry.
• @saritanarang01 asked Uber on 7 November why intercity drivers from Pune to Mumbai were asking for Rs 400 over the fare.
• @pratiksocia1 wrote that drivers accept a booking, ask the rider to cancel and pay a higher price midway, and threaten to drop them otherwise.

Post: @Rushu_Tushu on X

Post: @saritanarang01 on X

Why drivers say app fares are too low

The dispute is not new. In December 2025, Pune drivers’ unions said Ola, Uber and Rapido were not following government-approved fares.

Pune Regional Transport Officer Archana Gaikwad then wrote that aggregators must align fares with Regional Transport Authority (RTA) rates under a state government resolution of 20 May 2025, and pass at least 80 per cent of the fare to drivers, as reported by Trak.in.

Some drivers argue that when the app shows less than the RTA rate, they are entitled to charge more. Riders, though, agree to the app price at the time of booking.

What Maharashtra’s aggregator rules say

The state’s aggregator policy, rolled out in July 2026, says base fares will be set by the transport authority and surge pricing will be regulated, according to The Free Press Journal. It also requires each aggregator to:

• Run a 24×7 customer support centre
• Appoint a grievance redressal officer and resolve complaints within a fixed time
• Pay drivers at least 80 per cent of the fare

The fare you see in the app is the one you agreed to. Nothing in the reports we checked allows a driver to demand cash over it during the ride.

What you can do if a driver asks for more

• Do not cancel the ride yourself if the driver asks you to. A rider cancellation can attract a fee.
• Politely say you will pay only the app fare. If you feel unsafe, ask to be dropped at a busy, well-lit place.
• Report the trip in the app’s help section right after the ride, with the exact amount asked.
• Rate the trip honestly. Ratings and complaints are how platforms track repeat cases.
• If the platform does not respond, ask for its grievance officer’s contact, which the state policy requires.

For other transport updates, see Pune Traffic and Metro and our guide to Pune Metro timings and fares, often a cheaper option for short city trips.

What is still not known

Neither Ola nor Uber has commented publicly on these posts. We will update this story if the aggregators or the Pune RTO respond.

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