Passengers booking app-based taxis in Mumbai and Thane are reporting demands for additional tips of ₹100 to ₹150 after drivers accept their rides, according to a report by Loksatta. The reported practice is affecting users of Ola, Uber and Rapido, particularly around airports, railway stations, commercial centres and during peak hours.
According to the report, some drivers contact passengers after accepting a ride and ask for money over and above the fare displayed on the app. Passengers who refuse are allegedly facing ride cancellations, with drivers then looking for another booking. This is leaving commuters with limited options after they have already spent time waiting for a vehicle to be assigned.
The reported demands come despite the Maharashtra Motor Vehicle Aggregator Rules, 2025, which were framed to improve transparency, discipline and passenger safety across app-based taxis, autorickshaws and e-bike taxi services in the state. The rules were prepared under Sections 73, 74 and 93 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, and define responsibilities for aggregator companies as well as rights for drivers and passengers, the report said.
The report said the rules also place obligations on aggregator companies, but the transport department has so far not been able to effectively control what it described as arbitrary conduct by drivers. Passenger organisations cited in the report said stronger implementation of the aggregator rules could help control such practices.
A passenger from Thane, Arun Bhalchandra, told Loksatta that asking for additional money after a ride is accepted amounts to changing the terms of the transaction and causes both financial and mental stress. He also said that complaints often do not result in concrete action.
Another passenger, Shekhar Mohite of Nerul, described a recent booking for a journey from Nerul to Dadar. According to his account, the ride remained unconfirmed for a considerable period before the driver first demanded a ₹50 tip and later increased the demand to ₹100. Mohite said the ride was booked after he agreed to pay the additional amount.
The reported pattern highlights a gap between the fare and service framework presented through digital platforms and the transaction that commuters experience on the road. When a driver seeks an additional payment after accepting a ride, passengers may have to choose between paying more, cancelling the journey or continuing to wait for another vehicle, particularly at locations where demand is high.
The report said passengers have been repeatedly complaining about such demands involving app-based services. It also said that the state government’s aggregator rules are yet to produce effective restraint on the practice. The transport department’s enforcement of the rules and the response of aggregator companies will determine whether passengers can book rides at the fare shown on the app without facing additional conditions.