Pune: Citizens find themselves caught paying premium prices for basic services when it rains, all in the name of convenience. Food delivery platforms and quick-commerce delivery portals have implemented surge pricing attributing the increase to the challenges their personnel face in the monsoon which places an additional financial burden on some consumers for their daily meals, busting personal budgets. Kondhwa resident Chaitaniya Khatare said the moment the first drops start to fall, food delivery apps add charges ranging from Rs 50 to a whopping Rs 500 depending on the distance and area of delivery.
“If you want to escape these charges, you have to buy memberships for these apps, and even then there are limitations. I recently paid Rs 80 surge pricing on a food delivery app for an order hardly 1-2km away, that was the price of not having to go and get it myself,” he added. Online ride-booking services waste no time in cranking up fares under the guise of ‘surge pricing’, making a simple commute a luxury.
Hadapsar resident Sushmita Das said when she tries to book a ride on these apps, most of the time it is not accepted by drivers. “Every time the search for a ride refreshes, the fares go up. Travelling from Shivajinagar to Camp, which usually costs around Rs 120-150 including the taxes and other charges, goes up to Rs 250-300 or even higher if fewer vehicles are available when it rains,” she added.
The situation on the streets is no different. Rickshaw drivers, citing the difficulties of navigating through flooded roads and the increased risk of damage to their vehicles, are asking for hefty flat rates instead of going by the meter. Commuters with no choice pay up or face the elements on their own.
Bibvewadi resident Aditya Thakur said, “I am utterly shocked at the fares demanded by the rickshaw drivers on rainy days . None of them agree to board passengers for short distances, and if you beg and plead with them, they will demand high flat rates. You have pay ‘extra’ charges upwards of Rs 100.
” These surge charges across various services have a cumulative effect on personal budgets, forcing them to make tough choices, prioritizing essential expenses over discretionary ones as they walk a thin line balancing convenience and affordability..
