Assault on woman by Bengaluru auto driver exposes deeper public transport issues: experts

The recent assault on a woman by an autorickshaw driver in Bengaluru has ignited a broader conversation about the state of public transport and the accountability of ride-hailing platforms.

The incident occurred after the woman cancelled her ride, sparking criticism of both the government and tech companies for failing to address the deteriorating condition of intermediate public transport in the city.

Urban mobility expert Satya Arikutharam pointed out that this incident highlights ongoing issues with Bengaluru’s transport system, reported The Indian Express.

He criticized the lack of effective policy and regulation, saying, "For the past eight years, poor governance has meant that neither drivers nor ride aggregators are held to proper service standards." Arikutharam also expressed concern that the burden of resolving such incidents often falls on the police, due to the inefficacy of local authorities and transport departments.

He accused tech companies of exploiting drivers through high fees, noting that drivers are often forced to pay up to Rs 75 daily to access multiple ride-hailing platforms. He suggested that companies like Google could intervene by preventing drivers from being online on multiple platforms simultaneously, which would ease the financial burden.

Arikutharam also recommended that technology be used to prevent ride cancellations by blocking further notifications once a trip is accepted, lamenting that discussions on public safety are overshadowed by the focus on the growth of urban mobility startups.

Anup P, the founder of E Samudaay, offered another perspective, recalling how unruly behaviour among drivers has been a longstanding issue, dating back to the 1980s. While police action and unionisation efforts helped control the problem in the 1990s, he pointed out that it was never fully eradicated. He also linked the rise in aggressive behaviour to stagnant wages among autorickshaw drivers despite Bengaluru's rapid economic growth, driven largely by the tech industry.

Anup argued that the arrival of ride-hailing platforms like Ola and Uber intensified competition and financial pressure on drivers, worsening the problem. He proposed that any long-term solution must focus on improving incomes for drivers and implementing better regulations to reduce the number of autorickshaws on the streets.

The incident in question occurred on Tuesday when the woman and her friend booked two autorickshaws through a ride-hailing app but cancelled one of them after another arrived first. The driver, identified as Muthuraj, 46, was enraged by the cancellation and followed the women, forcing their auto to stop. After confronting the woman, Muthuraj allegedly slapped her, accusing her of wasting his fuel.

A video of the confrontation went viral after the woman posted it on social media, prompting the Bengaluru police to arrest Muthuraj on Thursday. The woman criticized Ola for only sending an automated response following the incident. Ola later requested more details from her, calling the incident "alarming."

The public response to the incident has been divided. While many condemned the assault, some social media users blamed the woman for booking and cancelling multiple rides, suggesting the driver’s frustration was justified. However, others maintained that verbal and physical abuse is never acceptable, regardless of the circumstances.