Chandigarh commuters feel fare pinch after Uber, Rapido licence suspension

Damini Sharma
September 9, 2026, 16:50
3 mins

Spread the news

Affordable ride options shrink; all four major app-based taxi services now without valid licences

Chandigarh, September 9

The Chandigarh Administration’s decision to suspend the licences of major cab operators has left thousands of residents struggling to find affordable and reliable transport, while also raising serious questions about the administration’s preparedness and planning.

Chandigarh popularly known as the City Beautiful, has a population of more than 13 lakh. Yet, residents woke up to higher cab fares and fewer booking options on Wednesday, a day after the suspension of Uber and Rapido licences left commuters with limited app-based alternatives.

The Chandigarh State Transport Authority suspended the licences of Uber and Rapido for six months with immediate effect on Tuesday, following the earlier suspension of Ola and inDrive. With all four major app-based taxi services now suspended, Bharat Taxi, a cooperative-led ride-hailing platform, remains the only major app-based cab option available to commuters in the city.

For those dependent on app-based cabs for daily office travel, the impact was felt in the form of higher fares, difficulty in securing rides and concerns over the availability and safety of alternatives. More than 25,000 aggregator cabs operate across the Tricity. However a large number of these vehicles are reportedly registered in Punjab and Haryana but operate in Chandigarh and the surrounding areas, highlighting the wider dependence of the Tricity’s transport network on vehicles registered outside the city.

Chandigarh resident Gurpreet Kaur, who commutes to office daily by cab, said she faced difficulty booking a ride on Wednesday.

“I normally pay around Rs 100 for a one-way cab ride to office, but today the fare was between Rs 175 and Rs 200. It was also difficult to book a ride. With the major apps suspended, I am concerned about the safety and reliability of the alternatives available,” she added.

Speaking to sections of the media, STA Secretary Nitish Singla said the companies had been given sufficient time and repeated opportunities to comply with the rules, but had “wilfully failed to do so despite considerable time having elapsed”. He said the companies could apply again, and if they assured the authorities of compliance with the rules, their applications would be considered.

Bharat Taxi now the key alternative

With these applications being suspended, Bharat Taxi is now the only major app-based cab option available to commuters in Chandigarh. Government data shows the platform averaged 190 daily rides in the city as of August 4, 2026, while 10,695 Sarathis — 7,810 cab drivers, 982 auto drivers and 1,903 bike drivers — were registered in Chandigarh as of July 28.

With commuters now having fewer app-based choices, the shift could put greater pressure on Bharat Taxi’s availability, particularly during peak hours, as demand adjusts to the changed landscape.

Regulatory action follows prolonged driver protest

The State Transport Authority (STA) cited non-compliance with the Chandigarh Administration Motor Vehicles Aggregators Rules, 2025, including notified fares, driver insurance and training requirements. The orders also cited issues such as overcharging, use of non-commercial vehicles and failure to comply with prescribed insurance and other regulatory requirements.

The action came against the backdrop of a nearly 100-day protest by cab drivers. Chandigarh Tricity Cab Drivers’ Union president Amandeep Singh and driver Prince had undertaken a 16-day hunger strike, raising demands related to insurance and other facilities. The protest, which began on June 1, ended after BJP leader and former Mayor Arun Sood offered juice to Singh and Prince at the Sector 25 Rally Ground.

For commuters, however, the immediate challenge remains finding affordable and reliable app-based transport with the city’s major aggregators out of service.