Uber Responds After Woman Claims Cab Driver Demanded ₹2500 Extra & Harassed Grandparents

As urbanization increases, many digitally controlled services also increased. From ordering to booking flights and trains, we can now do anything from our smartphones. Similarly, the emergence of cab services in India represents a significant shift in urban transportation. In the last decade, cab-riding services such as Ola and Uber have led the revolution in India. However, along with the increasing penetration of cab-riding services, many problems also arise.

There have been concerns brought up about surge pricing, driving conduct, and a lack of control. In a similar kind of incident, a woman shared her harrowing experience with Mysuru Cab Driver on LinkedIn. Following the widespread circulation of her story, the corporation responded.

Woman shares how Mysuru cab driver harassed her grandparents by unfairly demanding excessive price

Recently, a woman named Nidhi Tara posted on social media about having a really terrifying Uber ride experience in Mysuru. In her LinkedIn post, she wrote,

URGENT: A Call for Accountability and Safety! I never imagined I’d have to share this, but safety concerns are paramount, and this situation demands urgent attention. On a recent Uber ride from Mysuru to Kempegowda International Airport, my family and I experienced unacceptable behavior from a driver (picture attached), leading to what can only be described as a threat to our safety and security.

Nidhi claimed that the driver demanded an extra Rs 2500 in addition to the legal fare. When Nidhi and his family did not accept his demands, he started threatening us. However, when Nidhi threatened her that she would report him, he left. She wrote,

Despite the driver confirming an additional toll payment of INR 450/- (over and above the total ride cost of INR 2407.96/-) at the time of leaving from the pickup location, once we reached the destination (Kempegowda International Airport), he became aggressive, demanding an additional INR 2500/- . When we stood our ground, the driver started threatening us. It was only when he was told that he would be reported and when people around us at the airport took notice that he left.

To her surprise, on the next day, the cab driver harassed her grandparents. It is because her grandparents’ was her original pickup point. Nidhi wrote,

This should have ended there—but last night, things escalated. This same driver showed up at my pickup location in Mysuru at 10:30 PM and harassed my elderly grandparents, demanding money and claiming he was cheated. His behavior not only left us deeply shaken but posed a serious threat to our safety.

Nidhi also shared that she reached out to Uber. However, they did not give any adequate response. She also asked fpr urgent action against such behaviours of cab drivers. Nidhi wrote,

Despite reaching out to Uber through the app and their customer service, there’s been no adequate response. An issue of this nature—post-trip harassment—is as critical as in-trip incidents. For any service provider, but especially in the ride-sharing industry, passenger safety cannot be compromised. I am calling for urgent action. This is not just about one incident but about ensuring no other family has to experience something like this again.

Have a look at the real post below

How did Uber react to the incident?

Upon seeing that the matter was quite serious and getting out of hand, Uber reacted by publicly apologizing. They also confirmed that their specialized team is currently investigating the incident. In replying to the above-mentioned post, Uber wrote,

Hi Nidhi, we apologise for this situation and understand how upsetting it must have been for you and your family. We can confirm a specialised team is currently investigating this incident and will be in touch in-app as soon as they have any updates.

Netizens asked Nidhi to boycott the Uber

Nidhi’s post, within no time, has gone viral on the internet. Many people reacted to it and criticized Uber for having such careless drivers.

Have a look at some of their responses

Although Uber and other companies have transformed urban transportation in India, instances such as these underscore the difficulties in guaranteeing customer’s safety and accountability. The terrifying incident that Nidhi Tara described highlights the urgent issues related to customer safety in the quickly expanding cab service sector. As this sector grows, it is critical that businesses put passenger safety first and enact stronger policies to stop driver misconduct in the future.

What do you think about these incidents? Does India need stricter rules for cab services? Do share your thoughts as well as suggestions in the comment sections of this article.