By News Karnataka
Bengaluru: In response to rising complaints of autorickshaw drivers overcharging passengers鈥攅specially after the ban on bike taxis鈥攖he Bengaluru transport department launched a major enforcement operation across the city on Monday. Nearly 300 violations were recorded, with over 100 autos being seized.
The drive, ordered by Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy, saw 22 inspection teams working from morning to evening. The operation spanned both core city areas and outskirts such as Magadi, Devanahalli, and Chandapura. The Jayanagar RTO topped the list with 48 offences and 18 vehicles impounded, while Rajajinagar RTO followed with 36 cases and 13 autos seized.
According to Additional Transport Commissioner (Enforcement) C Mallikarjuna, teams verified complaints directly with commuters, confirming travel distances and fare disputes. Only drivers who breached the Regional Transport Authority (RTA)鈥檚 fixed rates were booked. Many autos were also found lacking valid documents such as permits, fitness certificates, and registration papers鈥攕erious legal violations that carry penalties ranging from 鈧3,000 to 鈧4,000.
Passengers reported app-based autos demanding unauthorized fees like congestion charges, pick-up costs, and even 鈥渢ips鈥 for pre-booking鈥攃lear breaches of transport regulations. Despite the RTA鈥檚 approved rate of 鈧30 for the first 2km and 鈧15/km thereafter, commuters have been paying inflated fares.
Currently, Bengaluru has around 3.6 lakh active autos, with 80-90% operating under aggregator platforms. Autorickshaw union leader CN Sreenivas criticized the government鈥檚 lack of regulation over these platforms. The department has stated that similar checks will continue in the days ahead.