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Time of India
25-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Commuters feel the pinch as cab drivers stay firm on ‘fare by meter'
Pune: Cab users on Friday continued to face the high-headedness of cab drivers — adamant on charging fares by the meter (RTA rates) — proving several rounds of meetings with government officials a futile exercise. Avinash Jatav, a bank professional, landed in Pune from Delhi on Friday morning. He had to go to Hinjewadi Phase-1. He said, "The cabbie accepted my ride, and a fare of Rs480 reflected on the application. But the man told me about the pay-by-meter rule and demanded Rs560. I somehow forced him to cancel the ride and took a prepaid autorickshaw for Rs530. I have never heard about such a rule in any city," Jatav said. Commuters trying to book cabs from Uber and other aggregators echoed Jatav. They said most cabbies remained firm on charging "fares by meter", resulting in many cancelling rides because of high fares and few budging under pressure. Cabbies term the Regional Transport Authority (RTA)'s rates "fare by meter". You Can Also Check: Pune AQI | Weather in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune Wagholi resident Ashish Deokar said authorities, particularly the Pune RTO (Regional Transport Officer) officials, were responsible for the cabbies' stubbornness. "They never took any action against this practice when it began with autorickshaws. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Learn More - How Watching Videos Can Boost Your Income TheDaddest Undo Had they acted strictly, the situation wouldn't have worsened. Last week, an Ola driver demanded Rs250 for a trip from Pune station to FC Road, a distance of around 5km. Does this make any sense?" he said. TOI's attempts to contact the Pune RTO and the deputy RTO proved futile. Another RTO official said, "We didn't take action because we didn't want a major agitation, which would have caused more issues. The cab aggregator policy is coming. It will settle all problems." Magarpatta's IT professional Atul Singh (name changed on request) and his three friends are still in a shock over their nightmarish experience with an Uber driver on Thursday afternoon. We went for a team outing to Katraj and booked an Uber from Keshavnagar — our meeting point. We opted for an 'Uber for Business' ride, but the driver didn't accept it. He told us that we would have to pay by the 'meter'. The application showed a fare of Rs280, but we ended up paying Rs500," he said. "One of my colleagues raised an issue on the Uber application, to which the driver got agitated and forcibly took a picture of his PAN card. He threatened that if his ID was cancelled because of the complaint, the consequences would be dire," Singh said. On Thursday, Keshav Kshirsagar, the president of the Indian Gig Workers' Front, said cabbies would be boycotting Uber indefinitely because it went to the Bombay high court against them. There was no major surge in fare in the application on Friday, but Kshirsagar said soon the boycott would have its effects. "Information is being spread to all the cab drivers at the moment," he said.
Time of India
18-05-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Over 22L vehicles in Pune need HSRPs, many still unaware of rule
Pune: High security registration plates (HSRP) for vehicles have become mandatory with June 30 as the deadline for fitments to be completed under the jurisdiction of Pune RTO , but many people continue to be unaware of the rule. Ahmed Shaikh (50) runs a small hardware shop in Bibvewadi and is clueless about HSRPs. He said, "I have a couple of two-wheelers and a four-wheeler registered before 2019. Neither am I aware of the rule nor do I know how to proceed with the fitments. I have no expertise with computers or the internet. How should my kind of people go about it? Do we need to contact an agent?" he told TOI. In the last five months, only 1.7 lakh out of 24,28,589 vehicles requiring HSRPs have gone ahead with the procedure. With June 30 as the deadline, around 22.6 lakh vehicles need to get the number plates in the next 43 days. A senior RTO official told TOI, "It is almost impossible. We have been proactive and encouraged citizens to come forward. People have not responded positively, but they should know HSRPs are mandatory for all vehicles registered before April 2019." Sachin Mhatre of Lohegaon works as a plumber. He said, "How is it that we don't know? The RTO has only relied on the news media to spread the word. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Cost Of Amusement Park Equipment From Mexico Might Surprise You - See Tips Amusement Park Equipment | search ads Click Here Undo They should have involved other mediums too. It could have been relayed through automated messages when you call someone." In Dec, last year, Pune RTO had launched a website ( for those who needed the new number plates. The first deadline was March 31, then April 30 and finally June 30. "We don't know whether there will be a further extension. If not, action will be taken against vehicles without HSRPs. We have started a help desk at the RTO office to help citizens," another RTO official said. Pankaj Kolhe, a Pashan resident, runs a small business. He said, "The website has issues and the appointments are stretched. Also, fitters do not arrive on time if one opts for home fitment. The RTO must consider such problems and fix it. I will get it done for my vehicles when things are smoother."
Hindustan Times
02-05-2025
- Automotive
- Hindustan Times
Installation of HSRPs in Pune sees slow progress
Despite insistence from the state transport department and an extended deadline of June 30, the installation of high-security registration plates (HSRPs) in Pune is progressing at a sluggish pace with only 140,679 vehicle owners having successfully installed new plates under the jurisdiction of the Pune Regional Transport Office (RTO) and only 274,336 appointments having been booked for installation as of April 30 this year. The number is significantly lower as compared to the estimated 25 lakh vehicles registered in Pune district that need to comply with the HSRP mandate. Both officials and citizens are concerned about the slow pace and limited infrastructure in place for carrying out the massive exercise. With only 125 authorised centres in the district currently designated to carry out HSRP installation, experts are of the view that it may take up to a year to complete the process unless the number of authorised centres and workforce size is significantly increased. Citizens are voicing frustration at delays, logistical hurdles and limited availability of time slots for HSRP installation. Rohit Solanki, a resident of Kothrud and owner of a two-wheeler, said, 'I booked my appointment two weeks ago and got a slot only in the third week of May. When I went to the centre, I had to wait for over three hours in the sun. There aren't enough centres for the number of vehicles in the city. If they want us all to comply, they need to ramp up capacity.' Meenal Deshpande, who recently got an HSRP for her car at a centre in Hadapsar echoed similar concerns. 'The process is smooth once you are at the centre but getting an appointment is a challenge. Many elderly people or those who are not tech-savvy are struggling with the online booking system. The RTO should have considered these aspects before rolling out such a large-scale mandate,' Deshpande said. Swapnil Bhosale, Pune RTO deputy regional transport officer, said, 'We understand the concerns raised by citizens as there are many vehicles in Pune that need HSRPs. We are working with the authorised vendors to increase installation capacity. More centres are being proposed and we are urging vehicle owners not to wait until the last minute to book their appointments. The extension till June 30 was granted keeping in mind the logistical realities.' The HSRPs, which come with tamper-proof features and a unique laser code, are intended to enhance vehicle security and curb vehicle-related crimes. The transport department has mandated the installation of these plates for all vehicles registered before April 2019. With the current pace of progress, the pressure is mounting on authorities to speed up implementation, and on vehicle owners to act promptly to avoid last-minute rush and potential penalties. As the June 30 deadline looms large, both infrastructure and awareness will be key for ensuring compliance.
Hindustan Times
30-04-2025
- Automotive
- Hindustan Times
Gold continues to glitter in Pune on Akshaya Tritiya
On the auspicious occasion of Akshaya Tritiya on Wednesday, considered one of the most significant days in the Hindu calendar, a large number of people flocked to markets to purchase gold, continuing a long-standing tradition believed to bring prosperity. Shops like PNG Jewellers, Ranka Jewellers, Ashtekar Jewellers and many others witnessed significant footfall throughout the day. Shailesh Ranka, director of Ranka Jewellers, said, 'Even though gold prices have crossed ₹95,000, people's faith in the auspiciousness of Akshaya Tritiya remains strong. Many are still buying at least one tola (approximately 10 grams) of gold today.' He added that all three of their showrooms in Pune saw brisk business. 'We have evolved our designs over time, and currently, lightweight jewellery is in high demand among customers,' Ranka said. 'Every year on Akshaya Tritiya, we make it a point to buy at least a small piece of gold it's a tradition in our family. This time, even though the prices were quite high, I still bought a pair of gold earrings for my daughter. I believe buying gold on this day brings long-term prosperity and blessings,' said Meena Pardeshi a citizen. The price of 24-carat gold was ₹97,970 per 10 grams, while 22-carat gold was priced at ₹89,750 per 10 grams. The rate for 24-carat gold has dropped by ₹60. However, with GST applicable on gold purchases, the net price difference was not significant. Meanwhile, there has been a decrease in two-wheeler vehicle registration this year during the Akshaya Tritiya period at the Pune Regional Transport Office (RTO) compared to last year. Interestingly there is a rise in the four-wheeler registration compared to other types of vehicles. As per the data shared by the Pune RTO, between April 22 and April 29, a total of 6710 vehicles were registered whereas from May 2 to May 9 last year a total of 7,191 vehicles were registered under Pune RTO. Last year a total of 1,593 cars were registered compared to this year a total of 1,680 cars were registered during this period. 'We had been planning to buy a new car for a while, and Akshaya Tritiya felt like the perfect day to go ahead with the plan. We booked a compact SUV and even performed a small pooja at the dealership,' said Rajesh Kulkarni, an IT professional.
