Late-Night Chaos Grips Pune Airport as Vehicles Scramble Amidst Licensing Crackdown

In the early hours of March 15, 2024, Pune airport witnessed a frenzy of activity as numerous vehicles scrambled to leave, creating a chaotic scene.

According to Dr. Keshav Kshirsagar, President of the Baghtoy Rickshawala Association, the chaos stemmed from recent actions taken by the Regional Transport Authority (RTO) Pune against cab operators affiliated with the Ola app. The RTO had initiated crackdowns, imposing hefty fines of up to Rs 18,000 on drivers and causing panic among them.

Rumors circulated among cab drivers that RTO personnel were patrolling Pune throughout the night, intensifying the apprehension. This led to a rush among cab drivers to leave the airport premises, with some even dropping off each other’s passengers in an attempt to evade potential fines.

As the situation escalated, passengers arriving on late-night flights found themselves stranded, unable to secure transportation due to the turmoil. Attempts to contact Ola and Uber, whose offices were closed at the time, proved futile, exacerbating the inconvenience for travelers.

The recent rejection of aggregator licenses for Ola and Uber by the RTA has raised questions and criticisms from various unions, labeling the RTO’s actions as a mere “Paper Exercise” with minimal practical impact.

Shreyas Vange