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We'd asked you, dear readers to share your experience about taxis and autorickshaws in India.
Hari Narayanan shares his experience of travelling by an Uber auto to Coimbatore airport. You can share yours too.
Recently I visited Coimbatore for the graduation ceremony of my son. After completion of the ceremony, I had to board a flight to Hyderabad at 09:35 am.
I booked an Uber auto. There was a surge pricing and the rate was 1.5x.
A normal airport drop would have cost me Rs 125-150 from Coimbatore station to the airport.
But as it was surge pricing, I expected the trip to cost me Rs 175-200. As it was an airport drop, I booked it even though there was a surge pricing.
The auto accepted the trip and started to come towards my hotel for the pick-up.
When he was about half kilometre away from the hotel, the driver called and said that I'd have to shell out an extra Rs 50 for the trip.
I refused and said that I'm cancelling the trip.
Meanwhile the driver drove past our hotel for about half kilometre and started a trip. I asked a taxi parked in front of the hotel the charge for an airport drop.
He said Rs 250, so I hired the taxi.
Had I taken the Uber auto on surge pricing with the extra Rs 50 as demanded by the driver, I'd have ended up paying Rs 225-250. I paid the same amount to the local taxi and travelled in the luxury of an AC car.
I was appalled at the behaviour of the auto driver, who tried to take advantage of the situation.
Lead photograph: Kind Courtesy Tom Maisey/Creative Commons
Dear Readers,
What's your experience been like with auto and taxi drivers been?
Do you get rides at first request? How do you deal with arrogant drivers?
Do you think cab operators like Ola and Uber are better alternatives in your locality?
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