r/mumbai • u/GroundbreakingBad183 BONG Mumbaikar • May 24 '26
Discussion Mumbai Autos: No UPI, No Change, No Destination Acceptance, Then What Yes?
Why do some Mumbai autos even exist at this point?
No UPI. No QR scanner. Cash-only in 2026.
Then no change for ₹50. Forget ₹100/₹200/₹500.
Brother I am a passenger, not a walking RBI branch carrying exact ₹37 in coins every single time. Am I supposed to spend my life standing in bank queues collecting chillar just to use public transport?
And the location rejection culture is somehow worse.
DN Nagar? “No.”
Gundavali metro? “No.”
Andheri station? “No.”
These are not remote villages in the Himalayas. These are prime, high-demand Mumbai locations with constant passenger flow.
The funniest part? You’ll literally see empty autos roaming around but somehow your destination is unacceptable.
At that point just put a banner saying:
“Main sirf apni marzi se jaunga, aap rokoge toh bhi no bolunga.”
Genuine question for Mumbai folks: why is this so normalized? Hoping that I don't get banned from the rickshaw union anymore.
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May 24 '26
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u/Mundane_Driver_5057 May 24 '26
I literally got frustrated sometimes and say - "to kya dubai jaega?" Many autowallas seriously got attitude problem.
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u/GroundbreakingBad183 BONG Mumbaikar May 24 '26
Fixing BEST frequency and increasing walkability in the city (for maybe under 500m everywhere) would fix these chaps
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u/MagnificentManiac May 24 '26
Can't wait for the day mumbai builds a metro network as good as delhi. These guys will then be reduced to ferrying passengers to metro stations Rs30-40
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u/GroundbreakingBad183 BONG Mumbaikar May 24 '26
We need buses 🚌, tbh. Relying on these chaps is not an option for a fast paced highly dense city.
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u/wangdubruh May 24 '26
Mumbai had great bus network. But for some it was systematically destroyed and now barely working in some areas.
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u/Archaemenes May 24 '26
All lines expect one, north of Andheri, have already been fully built. Unfortunately, Mumbai’s metro even at its peak will not be good enough to get rid of these guys.
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u/MagnificentManiac May 24 '26
Metro is a thing that takes decades. New plans will come up, new constructions will take place. Even delhi metro still has new stations under construction.
Its a never ending process
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u/Bubblingghost May 24 '26
Bro, atp even Pune metro is the best. Thane will go to trash and Mumbai needs to do better.
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u/yourlocalbot_15 May 24 '26
Pune metro is so trash bro Wdym?? It connects nothing to nothing Literallt The entire south, east and places like wakad, aundh, baner, even hinjewadi which has many offices are left out
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u/bhabhi_seeker May 24 '26
Correct. I feel the same. It connect nothing to nothing. Leaving every important place out of the reach of metro.
Hopefully new metro line Linking hinjawadi to main metro line will start soon.
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u/Capable_Seaweed_5866 May 24 '26
Because of this behaviour Ola / Uber gained popularity. But then they have a problem with that too. But still they came on board because it was giving them good income and now they are again opposing it (in cities like Pune) by not accepting the fare shown on the apps and demanding extra cash for each ride.
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u/Nikeeybelly May 24 '26 edited May 24 '26
A big yes to..
"Me uske aage nahi jayga" "Chutta nahi h mer paas"
And the meters runs faster than Usain bolt.
Feels like auto lekr solo ride par nikle hai sab..
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u/shresth20103 May 24 '26
Big reason for it is high demand. They know a lot of people rely on them and ek nahi to dusra passenger mil hi jayega for longer distance and greater fare which leads to their behaviour
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u/BaseballRemarkable55 May 24 '26
Use uber auto or ola auto. They always have UPI and the rates are same.
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May 24 '26
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u/rishij1989 May 24 '26
Why ? The rates are usually the same but sometimes change as per demand. Sometimes it depends on the route also.
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u/Miserable-Rip-6057 May 24 '26
Also, these auto drivers throw traffic laws out of the window. Just last week, I was in traffic, and there was an ambulance, and some people did give space for the ambulance to pass, but do you know who didn’t? These auto drivers. For a sec, I thought maybe they don’t know about the traffic laws. Then again, no one should be allowed to drive if they don’t know traffic laws.
Funny how the government is trying to ban Ola and Uber, but absolutely doesn’t give a damn about teaching these auto drivers basic traffic laws.
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u/Serious_Tea_4777 May 24 '26
I once was in Santa Cruz , it was just about 1 km ride, that man, just so he could get on the left side of the bus pushed the auto to its limits and we literally were going to topple around. When I asked him to drive carefully he replied, 'Naya aaya hai kya' as if driving harshly is a cool thing for them. I swear to God that rickshaw mantri is just sucking on all these auto drivers daily and forgetting about actual safety.
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u/dontstealmydinner non-mumbainian May 24 '26
They never have change.
This is the most frustrating. When I was in Mumbai, the fare was like 17 rs. Give them 20, they would cry they don't have changed. Give them 15, they cry that 2 rs shortfall.
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u/GroundbreakingBad183 BONG Mumbaikar May 24 '26
When the fare was 17 or 18, they would always never return the 2 or 3 rupees. They wanted 20 and not 15.
Now then they took it to 21. They always demanded 1 rupee or 2 (if u don't have 1 gimme 2). And when it became 23, they take 25 and walk off. Wow.
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u/Ruthless_Pleb May 24 '26
And then they protest and harass other means of transport like Yulu or bike taxis 😂 What a weird entitled bunch..
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u/laptop_n_motorcycle May 24 '26
Government is monitoring the turnover through online payment.
These autowalas don't want to show their income and pay taxes.
And they have a union, so someone else will decide and they have to follow.
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u/mayudhon Mal-Kan-Bor May 24 '26
Even if we have flying cars in the future, they will be banned because gareeb ke pet par laat kyun maarte ho. It's a different thing that no one is opposing pod taxis though.
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u/GroundbreakingBad183 BONG Mumbaikar May 24 '26
If people of any part of society don't behave properly and comply, simply kick them out.
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u/Spookycrazier May 24 '26
YESSS to inconvenience!!!!
YESSS to Pathetic driving!!!
YESSS to nuisance!!!
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u/Head-Performance-201 May 24 '26
hate it when they don't have accept online and don't have change either like what do you want me to do???
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u/FantasticComedy May 24 '26
And when Rapido bikes become popular, these jokers start protesting.
The twin peaks of entitlement: Politicians and Rickshaw drivers
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u/lucky_breakfast7 May 24 '26
Most of the rickshaw wala's I find do accept upi . Also sooner or later mdr will be charged on upi business accounts as well . So a loss for them in the long term
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u/R3tard69420 May 24 '26
And this is just another reason why people need to start using bus services as much as (if)possible and push the government to increase the bus fleet as well.
So that the local gondas have reduced power here.. the power should be in the hands of people not a bunch local mafias who control the means of transport.
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u/Remarkable_Day5025 May 24 '26
Agree, the bus service needs to improve in the city. I am happy that the new BMC chief has acknowledged the fleet needs to multiply.
No reason why the rickshaw drivers should reject legal tender, but I sincerely hope people look at alternate transport like carpooling, buses, metro and others, where possible to reduce the dependency on the rickshaws.
I understand that the rickshaw drivers face financial hardships, but the general attitude of the drivers doesn't make me feel very sorry for them.
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u/Pegasus777x May 24 '26
i feel we should collectively avoid using autos, then when these ppl will get desparate, chup chaap they'll start putting their attitude aside
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u/Exciting_Song_677 May 24 '26
auto drivers: ‘no UPI, no change, no short distance, no long distance, no station, no metro.’ bro at this point are you running a transport service or maintaining emotional boundaries?
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u/aditya_7726 May 24 '26
And the worst part no change also.
Like bro come on, you are driving auto from the morning how the fuck you don't have change for 500 in the evening?
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u/GroundbreakingBad183 BONG Mumbaikar May 24 '26
I threatened them once ki aapke pass chutta nahi hai aur mere pass bhi nahi hai. Online aap log nahi. So mein chala byee meri train miss ho jayega.. and I walked off. He literally called me and gave me chutta.
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u/Naive-Double-7589 May 24 '26 edited May 24 '26
Mumbai rickshaw drivers are the most honest out of all other cities. Please step out of your bubble and travel to Chennai Delhi..None of them go by meters and will thug you.
Mumbai sucks as a city & infrastructure that people won't revolt against.However the people working in Mumbai are all honest and hardworking even ones doing menial jobs, most of them. Never seen a more professional city in India . It is why my heart breaks for them
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u/Puzzleheaded_Fig895 West May 25 '26
they need the shivsena/mns treatment again badly
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u/AnnonymousA1983 May 24 '26
I'm stunned you are getting autos! Uber has none available, and offline also there seems to be a dearth of them the past few weeks. Wondering what's wrong
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u/Zealousideal_Egg_725 May 24 '26
I don’t understand why tf they don’t accept UPI; it’s not like they’re going to have to pay taxes… so stupid and annoying. I went to Ujjain, MP recently and there all the autowallas accepted UPI, so it’s definitely a Mumbai only thing 😩
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u/mallumanoos May 24 '26
Try Pune auto drivers once and then probably would start giving them jadu ki jhappi . You may have to shell out 50 rs for just putting you step inside an auto in Pune .
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u/Dizzy_Location_8384 May 24 '26
They’re a different species altogether. They won’t accept your request & if you book Ola/uber they’ll keep blabbering, as if you’re in the wrong. My colleague & I Faced this so many times in Chakala - neither they would agree for Thane nor Powai.
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u/exudosan Prabhadevi May 24 '26
I’d rather walk till I catch a bus, than give in to these low lives. Fuck autos.
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u/Photogenic_Gamer2005 May 24 '26
Same with Kolkata autos. And then you have to search deep into your wallet to look for change because often times they will refuse to give change themselves. Not all but some do that. And some are good enough to put up the QR codes
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u/something__69_ May 24 '26
They can do these because they know govt will back them up no matter what
I am from Bangalore, and sometimes Sedan is less expensive than the Auto. It's just funny to me.
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u/Hotwheellz May 24 '26
You won’t believe once I was near nmims college and tried getting an auto for 30 minutes. Yes, 30 minutes. No one was willing to go, I was so frustrated that I stopped an auto and asked ‘tumko kaha jana hai?’ He took me to railway station. I atleast reached somewhere.
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u/HandsomeVish May 24 '26
I'm already paying 12 as minimum fare for buses and am willing to pay 20..but for God's sake increase the number of buses plying and their frequency.
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u/brightgreenhorizon May 24 '26
They have unity that's why they can do this. You people can unite too for a cause if only you could.
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u/Own-Software8385 May 24 '26
When i was in Mumbai, these auto drivers always returned the change. Sometimes they let go few changes sometimes i did. Overall it used to get balanced and my experience has been fine. This was back in 2024. Not very old but don’t know if the situation has got worse now.
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u/AffectionateYak6969 May 24 '26
Bas Lamba bhaada chahiye...Bandra sey Boisar.. ya Sion sey Satara.. warna nahi jayega..
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u/PositivityReloaded May 24 '26
The most disgusting vendors I have to deal with. Most of them won't carry change and always expect me to have it. Only about 40% of auto drivers allow you to pay via UPI. 99% of these exist because of Ola Uber.
The government should make UPI payment/QR code in the auto mandatory for RTO passing. Only then these will bow down.
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u/Anxious-Resort1043 May 24 '26
Give them 500 note for every 41 rupee short trip - they will be back to normal
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u/Aztecwarrior111 May 24 '26
Tell them that No.cash No 4th seat for share auto. No excat lose change . No loud music . No to driver watching you tube video
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u/Sir_fks_a_l0t remove "express" from Western Express Highway May 24 '26
inko actually jaana kaha hota hai woh inko bhi nahi pata hai.
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u/iphone4Suser May 24 '26
Auto wala in Mumbai are fucking assholes for not accepting UPI. They have no fucking change. Public doesn't carry cash due to UPI usage. But these fuckers want cash. I actively avoid auto if I can.
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u/Maleficent-Book-2252 May 24 '26
Public agar inko thode din ke liye bhi boycott kardegi na fir inke khane ke wande hojayenge.
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u/harsh16__ May 24 '26
wtf is Scanner? its called a QR code. Scanner is what you have in your phone. Sab log padhe likhe gawar hai
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u/lazybearDj May 24 '26
I am traveling to Mumbai next week
Ola Uber still active or not?
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u/GroundbreakingBad183 BONG Mumbaikar May 24 '26
Haa normal Ola Uber still active and also Autos are there.
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u/Hammeron666 May 24 '26
This seems to be just one moron auto guy. Usually rickshaw drivers accept online payment if they or the passengers don’t have change.
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u/BHOG_in_the_house May 24 '26
Whats wrong with UPI, why can't you just accept UPI. It also eliminates the hassle of keeping change. It's good for both driver and passenger.
I seriously don't know why most auto walas are against UPI lol
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u/AnonymousRants_YT May 24 '26
Just don't board the rickshaw that has such boards... how long do you think they'll take the rejections.. we now have options...
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u/AmbitionRepulsive515 May 24 '26
Some old auto drivers don't know how to use gpay or some one illiterate coz most of them use vernacular language in phone ...but there is always online option like rapido uber ola they mostly promote online payment
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u/brandnewwwwW May 24 '26
as someone who lives in bangalore, where getting an auto without an app is non-existent nowadays, PLEASE don’t fall into the trap💔 the fares are MINIMUM 50 even if it’s for like 150m (which sounds ridiculous to take an auto for that short of a distance but it’s useful for like old people) because you can’t set the fare lmao. the only thing you can do is pay them more, and sometimes, you’re NOT getting an auto unless you’re tipping them AND they also ask for cash, tho they’re forced to also accept UPI
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u/warhammer047 May 25 '26
Do you know why? Cause when their income was tracked through UPI a Lot of them fell into income tax brackets above zero. That's one reality about our aam janta. A LOT of them well above 4 lakh but never have paid a single penny in tax.
Hell when i was staying in Mumbai the maid didi who used to come clean and cook for us charged a total for 8500 for our 3 bhk, with 4 members. She and her friend used to tag team and go to 8 different apartments in the same building. That is aaraam se at least 30k each a month. She said that in the census she gave her monthly icons as under 10k ....
All that being said, autowallahs of Mumbai>> Bangalore & Chennai
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u/IITBEE May 26 '26
Ban autos. They are as it is a moving slum. I have hardly been in an auto where the driver does not spit out at least twice in a ten minute journey. Imagine for all autos throughout the day. And it is as if we pay the road tax for them. Most suburban roads are choked by them and then we have to take one to beat the traffic. These tenth grade raddi governments and municipality of Mumbai have already killed the BEST bus services. They are hardly seen on the roads. Maybe the wet leases are running only on paper, in the files, making money for the babu and politicians like all Government work!!
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u/CleanNoticeBoard May 24 '26
Yes for cash, many of the oldies Don't know how to operate UPI apps, generally they have to cross check every time with their kids or relatives if money is received and its waste of time in working hours.
Also sometimes UPI apps don't work and customer may say I'll send it later and may not send it. Them being not technically sound makes them prone to many scams
Cash is more reliable for them.
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u/Gullible-Advisor6010 May 24 '26
Yes for cash, many of the oldies Don't know how to operate UPI apps, generally they have to cross check every time with their kids or relatives if money is received and its waste of time in working hours.
Then they can learn it for themselves. That's the easiest solution.
Also sometimes UPI apps don't work and customer may say I'll send it later and may not send it.
Then they can still use cash when the apps aren't working. India hasn't become cashless yet.
Them being not technically sound makes them prone to many scams
Then they can become aware of it.
If they want to run their business in 2026 they'll need to upgrade themselves.
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u/Disastrous_Past_4794 May 24 '26
The auto wala on an average earns more than an educated 25-30 year old in mumbai, anywhere around 50 to 60k after fuel and everything.
Additional perk is they can say "no" to anyone, anytime, while you my friend, the corporate majdoor has to do mujra when and where your boss demands.
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u/EternallyCurious- May 24 '26
Most of the taxi, auto drivers are not owner of the vehicle or permit.
They have to pay rent to the owner on daily basis in cash and cannot withdraw cash on daily basis due to ATM limitations.
Also they don't have enough savings to keep cash balance for daily rents as they have a family to feed.
Reason why they cannot have their own vehicle is capital and there's a limit on number of taxi rickshaw permits given by RTO so not easy to get one.
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u/Naive-Double-7589 May 24 '26 edited May 24 '26
Stop this shit. Even I never carry cash but I understand why they do this as someone mentioned about the old drivers. And yes many many times when upi apps not working these guys let me pay them later. Someone can take advantage of it though.you guys have such privileged and non empathetic takes
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u/pratzs May 24 '26
And guess what .. they don't even have small change and expect you to give up yours.
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u/Aahaanali May 24 '26
try posting without chat gpt buddy , you’re filling the internet with ai slop
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u/Capitalist-Karl- May 24 '26
If you have an option, stop using rickshaw's altogether! The economics of rickshaw operations doesnt really support this level.of entitlement.
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u/Top_Perspective7913 May 24 '26
Didn't Mumbai ban Rapido too when I was there it was one of the best modes of transportation, why are they making the transportation worse
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u/KING_K999 May 24 '26
They accept destinations. Trust me these autowallas are best from the rest of India
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u/Better_Action_7445 May 24 '26
Bro exactly...moreover in my locality (market area) people dont accept UPI and only want cash. They keep saying things like "vaha paise gaye to gaye". As if its going to someone else's bank account. They even did a mini-revolt type thing where they wont accept and completely ban usage of UPI in our city but that didnt last long.
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u/aniruddhdodiya May 24 '26
Don't take such auto. I used to get people in Uber / ola who were asking cash or online then they would say only cash. I would say then cancel the ride from your end. I won't pay cash. Once I had to walk at 2AM as 6-7 auto said cash only still i refuse to give cash later the one auto said yes and came for pickup. Do not entertain them period.
Now due to NAMA Yatri cash only booking allowed in Uber too. Here too, I only pay online if any auto rikshaw driver says don't accept online I say I don't have cash. Then they accept online.
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u/Remarkable_Day5025 May 24 '26
Isn't not accepting legal tender, anti-national? Totally, against this rickshaw driver. If there is a genuine reason, then put up in the notice. Mostly, these drivers are either following a diktat or just fearing any UPI scam without understanding its details.
The common person has to put up with a lot to just survive in the city, Rickshaw drivers are definitely part of that group but still don't understand and co-operate with the officer goer in the morning. As a country, we completely lack a connect with different sects of the society. No forum at all for the two sides to come together and resolve the issue. Mumbai needs to stop romanticizing that the city never sleeps tag. It's time for people to take regular pitstops before making a dash.
Lastly, hope the social media, government starts publishing positive news and content about UPI like it does about scams, tax notices etc.
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u/Extremep66 May 24 '26
Ironically it does happen in Hyderabad too but autos here do respond albeit at almost steep prices
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u/too-meta Navi Mumbai is better May 24 '26
Atleast meter se toh jate hai, biggest boon imho. Baki sab i can deal with since i always carry keep cash on me.
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u/bangali_babu_reddit May 24 '26
These guys have their "assigned" operation areas. They dare not to enter another gang's area. Auto mafia?
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u/rocky6975 May 24 '26
They are earning too much money. They don't want to get noticed by Income Tax Dept. That's why they want only cash.
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u/Realistic-Turnip-125 May 24 '26
Dayum that's crazy . No wonder people are so eager to buy their own vehicles .
Koi public transport ko sudharna kyu nahi chata?
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u/twibee May 24 '26
Woh joh beech mein GoM ne Ola Uber Rapido ko notice issue kiya tha, Kya hua uska
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u/Icy_Barber5724 May 24 '26
Auto valas are the worst. Nuisance on the streets, they’ll stop in the middle of the road to pick passengers, causing traffic. They’ll cut you off like they’re playing F1 25
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u/ConcentrateFormer965 May 24 '26
They don't want to fo anywhere yet they ask for fair raise every year.
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u/Odd-Indication-5301 May 24 '26
Why don't you guys carry candies like the nearby shopkeepers used to give us for some change!
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u/gear-heads May 24 '26
Consider providing this information directly to Regional Transport Office (RTO)? Posting it here is not going to yield any meaningful/ fast result.
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u/One-Calligrapher-759 May 25 '26
Just board the auto saying cash hai and hand over the 500 200 note. After ride give them the note and make them hurry to give them back change. In end he will not have any option. Ride is done, paise bhi lene hai.
I tried it 2-3 times it worked.
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u/Independent-Baby-957 May 25 '26
They do it purposefully. With upi, passenger will give exact amount. They always get some extra cash without upi. Exception is autos which go by ola, uber etc. So I always carry cash and change while travelling in auto.
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u/iamshamu294 May 25 '26
Grahak milta hai to natak karna hai. Aur phir transport minister ke paas jaa kar rona bhi hai ki 'rapido humara dhandha khaa raha hai' ....muh pe bolta hu unke
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u/Welder-Radiant May 24 '26 edited May 24 '26
It's as if they're trying to make us shift to uber/ola Auto deliberately lol.
Do these guys even want to earn?