The 12-hour statewide bandh called by the India Bloc has severely crippled transportation networks across Odisha, leaving air passengers stranded and vulnerable to exploitation.
Commuters arriving at Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar from major cities like Delhi, Bengaluru, and Kolkata faced a harrowing time on Thursday as online cab services and private drivers capitalised on the transport vacuum by charging exorbitant, multi-fold fares.
With public buses, auto-rickshaws, and regular transport services grinding to a complete halt due to massive road blockades at Master Canteen, Jaydev Vihar, and Acharya Vihar, desperate travellers turned to app-based taxis as a last resort. However, what should have been routine rides turned into costly ordeals.
Passengers Reel Under Exorbitant Rates
Travellers voiced deep frustration over the sudden surge in unofficial pricing. Babu Behera, a passenger arriving from Delhi headed to Mancheswar, shared his ordeal:
“The app showed a fare of INR 230 from the airport to Mancheswar. However, once booked, the driver demanded anywhere between INR 800 and INR 1,000.”
Similarly, Jyotsna Samantsinghar, who wanted to travel to Kataka, reported a massive discrepancy:
“The app displayed an estimated fare of INR 630, but the driver demanded INR 1,500.”
Cab Union Responds to Allegations
Addressing the severe public backlash, Vichitra Nayak, a representative of the private cab and online driver association, defended the adjusted rates while denying claims of arbitrary threefold overcharging. He stated that operating cabs during a statewide bandh poses genuine risks of vehicle vandalism by protesters.
“Even despite the Odisha Bandh, our drivers are willing to take risks to help passengers move. Considering the heightened risks and operational challenges, we are charging a slightly higher adjustment, but allegations of a threefold hike are baseless,” Nayak noted.
As road blockades, picketing, and suspended public transit continue to restrict movement across Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, administration officials have urged caution while monitoring the situation closely until the 12-hour shutdown concludes at 6 PM.
