Ahmedabad Commute Chaos: Auto-Taxi Strike Hits City As App Cab Fares Surge Up To ₹999

Daily commuters, office-goers, and airport passengers in Ahmedabad faced severe transit disruption on Monday, September 7, as an auto-rickshaw and taxi strike left roads depleted of public transport options. Taking advantage of the widespread shortage of available rides, major cab aggregators including Uber, Ola, and Rapido implemented steep surge pricing, pushing fares as high as ₹999 for a single 19-kilometre trip across the city.

The protest, called by auto and taxi driver unions, saw app-based drivers stay off the roads in large numbers. Protesters are demanding a revised minimum fare of ₹20 per kilometre and an immediate crackdown on app-based two-wheeler bike taxi services, which they claim have slashed their daily earnings by half. While a few shuttle rickshaws attempted to operate on select routes, striking supporters actively intervened in several areas to halt both shuttle services and app-based two-wheeler riders.

Sharp Surge Across Major Aggregator Apps

With traditional transport options scarce, commuters turning to ride-hailing apps were met with massive price spikes. A direct comparison across key routes in Ahmedabad highlights the steep price variance recorded on Monday:

The 19-kilometre trip from Prahlad Nagar to Airport Circle saw the highest fare among checked routes, with Uber XL quoting ₹999, followed by Rapido Cab XL at ₹698 and Uber Go AC at ₹678. Ola Mini offered a relatively lower option at ₹398.

The fare discrepancy was particularly stark for regular commuters who typically rely on auto-rickshaws. On the 5-km CTM to Gita Mandir route, app-based auto fares ranged between ₹99 and ₹141, while four-wheeler cab options on the same stretch ranged from ₹219 up to ₹547.

Key Demands Fueling The Strike

The primary driver behind the agitation is the demand for a fixed minimum fare of ₹20 per kilometre to offset rising operational costs. Striking drivers allege that rapid expansion by bike-taxi services on aggregator platforms has severely impacted their livelihoods, reducing overall earnings by nearly 50%.

Because aggregator algorithms dynamically adjust prices based on real-time demand, traffic congestion, and vehicle availability, commuters across Ahmedabad faced constantly shifting fare estimates throughout the day, leaving many struggling to secure affordable transport.