Pimpri-Chinchwad And Pune Residents Face Heavy Rains, Cab Fares Surge Amid Flood-like Situation
Pimpri-Chinchwad And Pune Residents Face Heavy Rains, Cab Fares Surge Amid Flood-like SituationÂ
Heavy rains recently disrupted life in many low-lying areas of Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, causing significant inconvenience to residents. Inundation in neighborhoods such as Sinhagad Road, Nadipatra, Dhayari, Kalyani Nagar, and Deccan led to a collapse of the local traffic system, leaving many commuters stranded.
With the traffic system in disarray, passengers relying on cabs to travel for work found themselves at the mercy of cab drivers. Reports indicate that passengers were hit financially as fares surged beyond the usual rates. Many cab drivers refused to enter certain areas, forcing passengers to rely on rickshaws and Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) buses.
In areas like Sinhagad Road, the waiting time for cabs extended to 20-25 minutes. Some drivers accepted bookings only to cancel them shortly afterward, leaving passengers frustrated and stranded. Financial strain was compounded as rickshaw fares increased by Rs 50 and cab fares surged by Rs 80 to Rs 100.
Swarupa Kulkarni, a resident of Sinhagad road, shared her ordeal: “I live in the Sinhagad Road area. I wanted to visit my relatives in Kothrud. I tried to book a cab from 12 noon for a long period. It was later canceled by the driver. I had to drop my plan to visit my relatives after this frustrating period of waiting for a cab.”
Similarly, Neelam Jagtap, who booked a cab from Bharti University in Katraj to Bavdhan, faced reluctance from drivers. “The address at Bavdhan was given correctly while booking. But the cab drivers initially hesitated and later refused to come. I told the driver I was ready to pay extra as I needed to go. Then he agreed to come. It is a kind of robbery of passengers,” she recounted.
Many passengers experienced similar situations where cab drivers either refused bookings or demanded higher fares due to the dire need of the passengers. This practice left many feeling exploited during an already difficult time.
As residents grapple with the aftermath of the heavy rains, the local authorities are urged to address the issues of transportation and ensure fair practices by cab drivers, providing some relief to the affected commuters.
