Chandigarh: Nearly a month after all four major aggregators in the city were suspended, people dependent on cabs find themselves struggling for their daily commute.Some passengers say bookings can still be made on suspended platforms but many end up with drivers cancelling the ride or negotiating fares directly.The crackdown unfolded in stages. State Transport Authority suspended Ola’s licence for six months on June 17, followed by inDrive on Aug 10. Uber and Rapido were suspended on Sept 8, also for six months, effectively leaving all four major private aggregators without valid licences to operate in Chandigarh.In a matter of days, roughly 1 lakh frequent cab users in the Tricity were affected. They still need to reach their workplaces, educational institutes, airport, railway station and other destinations. But now, they have figure out how to make the commute without burning a hole in their pockets.People still have the apps on their phones though. Passengers say some suspended platforms continue to accept bookings, creating confusion about whether a ride will actually be completed.“You can still book a cab on some of these apps. But after accepting the ride, the driver may call and ask you to cancel the booking. The fare is then discussed directly with the passenger, so the price shown on the app no longer matters,” said a regular app-cab user.Another commuter said this has made the booking process less predictable. “Earlier, you knew the fare before getting into the cab. Now, if the driver cancels the booking and offers to take you directly, you have to decide whether to negotiate or look for another cab,” he said.The situation has also produced visible changes on the ground, with some drivers displaying Bharat Taxi stickers on their vehicles. Bharat Taxi, operated by Sahkari Taxi Cooperative Ltd, has emerged as the principal organised alternative after the suspension of the four private aggregators.Some commuters, however, complain that fares of Bharat Taxi are higher than fares on other platforms, particularly when demand surges.“Legally it’s the only option, but there are times when the fare is noticeably higher. Earlier, we could compare rates across several apps before deciding,” said a commuter.For now, tricity residents who depend on cabs are facing a silent crisis with no resolution in sight.
