[krishnakumar]

Since there is a debate on the thread pertaining to “how the cab got out of the Ola zone” - I’m not sure how in this particular case, but I’m certain that the drivers would have figured out a modus operandi through which they can abuse the system.

I work for a large e-commerce firm and particularly work in the space of last mile logistics. Despite numerous so called “intelligent” systems running on ML models etc. the drivers easily find out ways to abuse the system. While I sympathize with the general gig-worker workforce because of the insane working conditions and difficult life they have to deal with, there is a good proportion of them running large syndicates swindling crores of rupees (not kidding and not a typo) from companies through such complicated MOs.

To me, after looking at some of those specific case studies, it is totally believable that these drivers would have figured out a complicated set of steps that will fool both the customer and the Ola zone employees to execute such things.

Eventually, companies do end of identifying such MO and there’s the end of that. But most of these companies are always playing catch-up to system abuse.

[RedOne]

Originally Posted by CrAzY dRiVeR

Just before you reach the designated spot, when you cross the generic parking, cabbies come and ask if you are OLA and they can take for the same amount instead. I see more possibility that the cab may have been boarded from there.

Agree. Happened to my son last week. He arrived late night and was not familiar with the new Uber pick-up point. As he was walking there and crossing the road opposite the bus station, a guy in a black t-shirt approached him and asked if he was looking for Uber. On confirming, he said he will get one and signaled someone, and a cab pulled up. Son got suspicious asked for OTP confirmation before getting in, and the guy said traffic is backing up, you get inside and give OTP. Son refused and the guy physically tried to push him into the cab. Son shoved him back and the guy fell on the road. Immediately, 3-4 people surrounded him and started arguing aggressively. Luckily the security guys who manage the pedestrian crossing came to his rescue and he quickly proceeded to the Uber point.

So it looks like a common/established scam.

[Joe367]

Surprised to see so many posts putting the blame on the victim here - even from people who apparently haven't used this particular system at Bangalore airport. I've seen such responses on other social media platforms, but never expected in team-bhp - this is pure victim blaming. Whatever be the intention of the driver, demanding extra charges/stopping for fuel past 10:30 PM at night to a woman travelling alone is clearly unacceptable behaviour.

This is not the movie recommendations thread, but I suggest everyone to watch the movie Aattam: The Play which won the best feature film at National Film Awards 2022.

[m8002?]

Whats so special about Ola/Uber from the Airport? I have tried it a couple of times few years before - never got a cab and gave up. Havent bothered checking that option after that.

Given all these issues, can one not just get into the Airport Taxi and go home peacefully? Agree it will be slightly expensive ( 200-300Rs more for my home in HSR). Are these ordeals/risks worth that 200Rs?

[Quicksilver85]

I had an harrowing experience pre-pandemic time where the driver informed me that the main carriage way someway further is experiencing a horrible traffic jam situation and it is better to take the service road. I said OK. He was driving on the service road parallel to the main carriageway to the city and then he informs me that there is a traffic jam on service road!

I sensed some danger and asked him to stop the car immediately and drop me off else I would call the cops. He was constantly on the call and speaking to the person on the other side in an another language which I understand where they were speaking of some plans & he kept telling him, I am coming,... I am coming.... This experience has shaken me that it can happen to anyone coming in late night flights.

I prefer to drive my car myself and park it at the BIAL parking and reimburse it as a travel expense (Fortunately, my previous employer used to allow that). Since I got into this habit and I got addicted to it for obvious reasons of safety and convenience, nowadays, I do not take cab if I travel for less than 3 days, I have decided to forego the parking charges & tolls for the peace of mind as my current employer doesn't allow such reimbursements.

[pedrolourenco]

Couple of years ago I booked an Ola Cab from the Ola counter at Mumbai airport. I received the SMS with the cab number and OTP. I got into the cab and was dropped to my hotel without any issue. Driver said to pay cash as it was booked from the counter. My app didn't show anything. Driver said that it will get updated. Didn't think about it for the next few days. After a month I was filling in my company claim form for all the Taxi Rides and this ride didn't show up. I spoke to customer care and they said there was no record of this ride in their system.

Now I didn't jump into a random cab at the pick up area. I booked it at the official Ola counter at the airport. This looks to be an organised scam and the people at the counter are hand in glove. They have a system to send a SMS which looks like an official SMS and the driver had some fake app that looked like the Ola App the driver had. The fare was also similar to what a real Ola cab would charge as I paid a similar amount from the hotel back to the airport.

[prancinstallion]

Just few days ago I picked up my partner from T2 BLR and on the way home I was telling her the next time, if for any reason, I'm not able to pick her up, she could take a cab and was giving her directions. This shook me up to say the least.

Uber Ola have become an integral part of urban mobility. They've scaled rapidly but the ecosystem has so many loopholes. Not sure where safety features in the list of their priorities. At least in BLR, I hope QuickRide, Blusmart, and Shoffr step up and put an end to the shenanigans of Ola Uber cab mafia.

[narayans80]

I think the incident is independent of whether its a real or fake Ola. There is no end to greed for money.

The moment the driver kept doing as he pleases, the lady was right in being paranoid and had the presence of mind to call the police. Am glad she was able to extricate herself out of the situation.

Only part I didn't understand is why she chose to ignore her instincts when she saw red flags upfront and still board the cab at 1030 pm at night! :-/

The harassment of innumerable autos and taxis asking for a ride is very real. This happens in train stations and airports. Last year when my wife was flying in with my daughter. I asked her to stay put in the terminal and not come out until I was in the lead up to the pickup area, just to avoid this annoyance.

We usually get our airport/train station pickup-drops done by a known taxi driver, who either comes personally or sends someone in the known circle. We started this as the success rate with app taxi is very poor at our residence, and it has worked well on the safety aspect as well. Since our rides are very less in a given year, I don't mind paying a premium for these rides.

[Pennant1970]

Not to start an argument - but if you look at her post, she does accept she shouldn't have got in the car, but was in a hurry. Similarly, she also is not talking about OLA per se - just that we should be vigilant.

Most importantly, why is most of the responses trying to say that the lady was somehow to blame? Thankfully she was not a victim and another number in our daily female sacrifice statistics. Not another one to be remembered when a new atrocity comes out. Just be careful, as she says - and ask our acquaintances to be aware and not let tiredness lead you astray.

[Janus]

How are the BMTC AC buses from Airport, don't most of the routes have round the clock service to inside the City ?

Or Cabs / Personal cars the only way to Airport.

[shankar.balan]

Everyone in the world acquires Wisdom equal to or greater than the Wisdom of Solomon, when things are viewed with the benefit of ‘hindsight’.

This lady is perfectly right in making a stir based on her poor experiences. I do travel and so does my wife and we also notice instances of this behavioural malaise on the part of these new age Ola and Uber drivers.

I wouldn’t want any of my family or friends to go through this kind of experience, ever.

That’s why we have shifted to Blu Smart and Shoffr for Airport runs and pick ups even if these are more expensive. For now they are certainly better, cleaner and more predictable.

And while sometimes the queues can be long, the plain old Airport Taxis are way preferable to both Ola and Uber. The drivers are better rested and the cars are slightly cleaner.

But overall the cab services in our country are smelly, Unhygienic and generally very iffy.

Saying this, the OTP system and the Car Number on the App and the Security notations at the exit gates etc are all good and positive measures created to enhance the security of the users.

However, a certain portion of the responsibility for our own safety also falls to us; we need also to remain vigilant at all times and not take these services for granted.

[alpha1]

Can anyone here help me out why Ola/Uber makes sense when instead of the usual queue of AC taxis waiting for you at the airport?

I have frequently been to Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Pune, Ahmedabad and my experience was that it is a pain to get booking, the pickup area is usually distant and crowded and in complete congestion, wasting everyone's time.

The only place where I find Ola/Uber convenient is Chennai, and that is because sometimes it becomes nearly impossible to convey the destination (or special instructions like drop one person there and drop the other elsewhere) due to the limitations of language & communication (perhaps deliberately imposed by some vendors and drivers - because it doesn't happen all the time).

[am1m]

Originally Posted by Janus

How are the BMTC AC buses from Airport, don't most of the routes have round the clock service to inside the City ?

Or Cabs / Personal cars the only way to Airport.

With a little planning, the Airport Buses, Vayu Vajara are an excellent way to get to the airport. Most areas will have a bus at certain times. I hate using cabs and always take the bus to the airport.

https://mybmtc.karnataka.gov.in/new-...ra+Services/en

Locate your nearest stop and check the timings. There are also phone numbers displayed where you can call the bus and check where they are. There is enough space for heavy luggage and the conductors are helpful. The drivers too seem better trained, they drive sanely.

Originally Posted by Janus

How are the BMTC AC buses from Airport, don't most of the routes have round the clock service to inside the City ?

Or Cabs / Personal cars the only way to Airport.

I just noticed your location, so you probably need info on how to use the buses to get from the airport to the city. When you exit the airport, look for the signs that direct you to the Airport Bus service/BMTC bus. Ignore the cabbies and touts who will do their best to convince you that the bus service does not operate, you cannot take luggage, etc. Just walk and roll your luggage the short distance to the bus pick up area. There will be quite a few buses lined up going to different parts of the city. Ask the conductors milling around there which one goes to the part of the city you want to get to.

There may not be buses, or perhaps very few operating between 11pm and 6am though.

You can also get on a bus that takes you to the Kempegowda Bus Terminal (also referred to as 'Majestic') and from there you have the option to take the Bangalore Metro to other parts of the city.

[K.grg]

I am neither trying to blame the victim nor supporting the driver.

One thing appears clear is that the driver was trying to make fool out of the passenger to make his quick buck.

I still feel that 'getting raped / getting killed / looted' sounds quite far fetched, as he was exposing himself for CCTV cameras in petrol pump, while waiting to hood wink her for Rs. 500. Had those worse scenarios been the intent, he would have drove to an isolated place to snatch her bag / phone / jewellery.

Here the culprit is the cab driver as he was cheating the passenger, by misguiding the passenger. He should be dealt strictly for this crime.

The lady too cannot escape from the fact she didn't check her app, did not share OTP and simply sat in the cab. Being a woman she is well within her right to be paranoid about situation, which everyone appreciates and agrees.

But if she has filed a complaint that he would have raped or killed her, the level of allegation against him goes up, which I am not sure I agree with her.

[GTO]

Agreed. At the Bombay T2 airport, Uber & Ola are HORRIBLE. You have to take the lift to another level, there are mad queues, long wait times and total chaos.

What I do is book from one of the cab companies inside the terminal. Akbar Travels has their booth right before the exit door and I found their service to be excellent. It's still not an entirely fuss-free experience as you have to walk down to the other taxi area and find your cab. But it is many levels better than Ola or Uber.

Whenever I'm going to the airport, I'm happy to take an Uber or Ola. But when I'm returning home, I always take my girl up on her offer to pick me up from the airport.