Autos available in Delhi for short trips, cab users face tough time

Be it the metro, auto stands or the taxi stands, everybody seems to be talking only about currency notes going out of business.

While auto rickshaws are usually used for shorter distances with monetary value of only up to Rs 100, it is the city’s cab service which is facing a challenge.

CAB DRIVERS SUFFER

Some mobile application based cab aggregators have put up a notice warning users that the drivers may refuse notes of 500/1,000 denomination. However, many commuters did not expect that impact of the ban on currency notes would be so quick. Ishaan Mathur who takes a cab daily to reach his office in Gurgaon found himself caught unaware as the driver refused to accept Rs 500 note. “My bill was Rs 640 and I gave a Rs 500 note plus the change. But the driver refused. I paid through Paytm later,” he said.

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The cab drivers, on the other hand, are a worried lot as they claim not many passengers are in the habit of using mobile wallets. Imran Haque, a driver with Uber said he has had to refuse at least two passengers as they didn’t have enough Rs 100 notes.

“We can’t take risk. Now whoever calls after booking a cab, I ask two questions. Can you pay by e-wallet? Or do you have enough Rs 100 notes?” he explained.

Another cab driver, Rohit, had to take his passengers to at least two gas stations despite reaching the destination for want of change. “The passenger directly offered me a ₹500 note. I had to get it changed at a CNG station. But that also took a lot of convincing,” he said.

Cab companies roll out schemes

Responding to the situation cab companies have begun rolling out schemes. Most of these are aim at encouraging people to use e-wallets instead of paper money. The schemes, that promise to double the recharged amount, have been reportedly receiving good response from users.

Read: Got too many Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes? Here’s where you can spend them in Delhi