Mumbai, June 11 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Maharashtra government on Thursday announced action against app-based taxi companies over passenger exploitation.
Acting swiftly on the issue raised by Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde regarding app-based taxi and ride-hailing services forcing passengers to pay tips, demanding extra fares, and exploiting them financially during emergencies, State Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik took immediate cognisance of the matter.
Minister Sarnaik has directed the Transport Commissioner to take strict action against the erring companies. For the past few days, a large number of complaints have surfaced from commuters regarding various app-based taxi services.
Instances of drivers demanding additional tips or extra money after accepting a ride, cancelling trips if the demands were not met, and causing mental harassment to commuters had risen significantly.
Taking serious note of this, MP Shrikant Shinde expressed sharp resentment on social media and urged the state government to intervene immediately, the release said.
Minister Sarnaik stated that forcing passengers to pay tips is completely unjust. He announced that instructions have been issued to the Transport Commissioner to investigate the operations of the concerned aggregator companies and initiate stringent action.
He further informed that the Transport Department will implement major measures to curb the arbitrary practices of app-based taxi and ride-hailing aggregators, and a new Aggregator Policy for this sector will be announced soon.
Shrikant Shinde has consistently raised his voice for consumer rights. This demand was aimed at ensuring that commuters receive transparent, fair and safe services. Following his persistent follow-up, the state government’s rapid intervention is expected to bring major relief to millions of commuters.
The Shiv Sena MP, in a post on X,, urged the Transport Minister to take strict action against the unfair practices imposed by app-based taxi and ride-hailing services. He pointed out that holding passengers to ransom during hours of need, exploiting their helplessness and forcing them to pay extra fares is a direct violation of consumer rights.
“This is not just a flawed business practice, but it amounts to literally holding consumers hostage,” Shinde stated.
He emphasised that while a voluntary tip is an expression of appreciation for good service, pressuring customers for tips or additional charges, threatening to cancel rides, or causing mental distress is completely unacceptable.
He asserted that receiving transparent, fair, and safe service is a fundamental right of every consumer, and demanded an immediate crackdown on these exploitative and anti-consumer practices.
Source: IANS
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