Surge pricing by Ola, Uber daylight robbery, says Arvind Kejriwal

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has termed as “daylight robbery” the surge pricing by app based taxi operators, and said overcharging and blackmailing won’t be allowed in the national capital. “Surge pricing is daylight robbery. No responsible govt can allow that,” he tweeted.

He said some taxi operators were resorting to blackmailing, saying they will not provide cabs if they are not allowed to loot and made it clear that his government will not allow that. “Some taxis saying they will not provide cabs if they are not allowed to loot. This is open blackmailing n govt will not let that happen.

“Overcharging, diesel cars, drivers without license/badges n blackmailing by taxi aggregators won’t be all0wed,” he posted a series of tweets. He also clarified that government was not against taxi aggregators, who provide important service to people, but “they will have to follow law.”

Delhi government had impounded 18 cabs of Ola and Uber for charging fares more than the prescribed rates during the odd-even car rationing period on Monday after an order was issued to the Transport Department to take strict action against such companies in the face of mounting criticism for manifold increase in fares.

Ola and Uber suspended ‘surge pricing’ after Kejriwal ordered strict action, including permit cancellation and impounding against overcharging by taxis. Surge pricing is a technique used by Uber and Ola to raise fares to provide drivers the incentive of keeping their cab running while also making it available for the user irrespective of the demand.