‘App-based rides 30-60% costlier lately’, say Bengalureans

I travel regularly, and today prices are 20 rupees higher for 8 kms on all the apps: Uber, Ola, Namma Yatri, and Rapido.

Now even on namma yatri, for the same distance I now have to pay 20-25 rs extra. And this is same across all the platforms.

Damn, let me tell you how Ola has messed up the auto rickshaw industry! They came in acting all fancy, promising convenience and fair prices. But what do we get? Overcharging like crazy! Their surge pricing during peak hours is a complete rip-off. They take advantage of our desperation and squeeze every penny out of us. And who suffers the most? The hardworking folks who rely on auto rickshaws every day. But it doesn't stop there. Ola's profiteering tactics have destroyed the earning potential of auto rickshaw drivers. They used to have control over their fares and make a decent living. Now, Ola dictates the prices and leaves the drivers scraping for scraps. It's just not fair! They've disrupted the whole system, and not in a good way. The drivers are struggling, and we passengers are getting ripped off left and right. Ola, you've turned a once reliable and affordable mode of transportation into a nightmare. Shame on you!

- Rapido, the bike-taxi startup, has reached a $1 billion valuation, becoming the latest Indian unicorn after securing $120 million in a Series E funding round led by WestBridge Capital. - The new funding highlights Rapido's growing influence in India's mobility sector, challenging the dominance of Uber and Ola, and aiding Swiggy in its competition against Zomato in the food delivery market. - Rapido's focus on two-wheeler transportation has allowed it to overcome challenges faced by traditional cab services, leveraging the widespread use of motorcycles and scooters in India's congested cities. - Swiggy, which led Rapido's previous funding round, has found a valuable delivery partner in Rapido, enhancing work opportunities for Rapido's drivers and planning to increase its stake post-IPO. - Rapido's latest funding round also saw participation from Khazanah, Malaysia’s sovereign wealth fund, marking it as the third Indian startup to achieve unicorn status this year, following Perfios and Krutrim. Source: Techcrunch

Saw this on Twitter today. Tech Mahindra hiring graduates for 3.25 LPA and 24*7 Shift timing. I talked to various people to get an idea of their pay. A) A plumber lives near my house. He said he earns 2-3k daily and works for 20-25 days average. He earns 50-60k per month. B) Electrician earns in the same range. And other technicians and workers like this who are skilled earn a lot more than a software engineer. This is the hard reality. Students study for 16 years and pay 15-20 lacs college fees for this.