Bengaluru auto-rickshaw fare scam: Meter shows ₹112 for halfway trip

Passenger forced to pay double the fare as auto driver manipulates meter near Silk Board Junction

A man arriving in Bengaluru on an overnight bus fell victim to an auto-rickshaw fare scam near the busy Silk Board Junction. Amid a light drizzle, an auto driver demanded twice the standard fare for a short trip. After brief negotiation, the fare was agreed at one and a half times the meter charge.

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The journey soon took a suspicious turn. The auto’s meter started at ₹25 but did not display the distance covered. Initially, the passenger assumed a fare revision, but the meter began increasing rapidly, one to two rupees every second, raising doubts about its accuracy. By the halfway point, the meter showed ₹112, far more than the expected fare.

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The driver first claimed the new rate was ₹45 per kilometre. Verification via Google showed the official fare in Bengaluru is around ₹18 per kilometre. The driver then blamed the rain for damaging the meter and claimed they had travelled 2.5 kilometres. To avoid further dispute, the passenger paid ₹90, roughly double the legitimate fare, and warned the driver the matter could be reported to police.

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A Google Pay transaction failed, leaving the passenger without the driver’s contact information, but the partially faded vehicle registration number was noted. The passenger later booked a Rapido ride to reach home safely.

This incident highlights ongoing fare manipulation scams in Bengaluru, particularly during rains, and urges commuters to verify meter readings and official fares before boarding.