Want A Ride? Pay A Tip First, Namma Yatri’s New Trend Sparks Debate | Auto News
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While the company says these tips are optional, many passengers say they struggle to find rides without adding them.
This is the first ride-hailing platform to allow passengers to offer tips before the ride is confirmed. (Representative Image)
Bengaluru’s ride-hailing app Namma Yatri is facing the heat for its controversial “advance tips” feature.
This feature, similar to Indian Railways’ Tatkal charges, allows passengers to offer extra money upfront to get faster auto rides. But many users claim that without adding this tip, their ride requests are simply ignored.
Namma Yatri was the first to introduce this idea. Soon, other big platforms like Ola, Uber, and Rapido followed. But now, passengers and even some drivers are raising eyebrows.
Voluntary or Just Necessary?
Co-founder Shan MS defends the tipping system. “These tips are optional and are only shown if no driver accepts the ride within 20 seconds,” he said. According to him, the idea came from the passengers themselves. He believes tips help balance the supply and demand during peak hours.
According to Deccan Herald, Shan compares it to Tatkal booking, where passengers willingly pay extra to get urgent train tickets. “It’s about convenience,” he added. “Would you rather wait longer or pay Rs 20-30 more to reach on time?”
What Happens Without Tips?
Shan warns that without advance tips, the system could switch to algorithm-based surge pricing – something passengers dislike even more. “Or worse, drivers may quit the platform altogether and choose offline rides, which could cost you double or triple,” he explained.
Drivers’ Choices
Drivers can choose between three fare buckets: base fare, middle, and higher. According to Shan:
- 20–25 percent pick the base fare
- 15–20 percent opt for the middle range
- Over 55 percent choose the higher fare
The system first offers rides to drivers on base fare, then moves up the ladder if no one accepts.
However, many drivers believe the current meter rates—Rs 30 for the first 1.9 km and Rs 15 per km after—do not reflect rising costs.
Drivers and Passengers Raise Concerns
Critics say this system feels like “digital bargaining.” Mobility expert Satya Arikutaram, who once worked with Namma Yatri, called the practice “worse than street-side haggling.”
Auto unions have also slammed the move, calling it unethical and unfair. Even the Union Consumer Affairs Minister has questioned it.
With 1.5 lakh rides daily and a 30 percent market share in Bengaluru, Namma Yatri is at a crucial point. While only 14 percent of passengers currently tip, the debate continues: is this the future of fair pricing, or just another clever way to charge more?
Samreen Pall, Senior Sub-Editor at News18, is a Computer Science graduate but a writer at heart, Samreen has one motto that she swears by: ‘Everything is dull and useless if it has no drama in it.’ This motto c…Read More
Samreen Pall, Senior Sub-Editor at News18, is a Computer Science graduate but a writer at heart, Samreen has one motto that she swears by: ‘Everything is dull and useless if it has no drama in it.’ This motto c… Read More
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