As a result of rising fuel prices, some drivers of online cab companies such as Uber and Ola are charging the passengers an additional fee for air conditioning. Many taxis have stickers that state ‘AC for an additional charge of Rs 50 to Rs 100’.
A cab driver in the city said the fare is currently less than Rs 12 to Rs 13 per km, and the increased commission to the aggregator makes it impossible for drivers to run their air conditioning.
“Because AC runs on fuel, and since fuel is so expensive at this time, running the air conditioner is difficult. Because of this, we decided to add an extra fee for the use of the air conditioner in the taxis,” he stated.
Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union (TGPWU) has announced a ‘No AC’ campaign in Hyderabad and has requested intervention from the transport department.
It said that for cab drivers to be able to pay rising fuel prices, the fare should be increased to Rs 17-20 per km. There are some customers who are willing to pay an extra amount for the air conditioner, while others will only pay as much as the app charges.
In the last eight days, fuel prices have been increased seven times across the nation. The price of petrol in the city has gone up by 90 paise, to Rs.113.61. The price of diesel has gone up by 77 paise per litre.
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As the price hikes are coming for the seventh time in eight days following a 137-day hiatus, this current situation is likely to continue for a few more weeks, dealers said, adding that the effect of the Russian-Ukrainian crisis remained the primary factor that might cause prices to increase again.
