In a city where the “auto-rickshaw mafia” remains a perennial sore point, Bengaluru witnessed a new viral video that brought the debate back, reviving how fair pricing is treated and the drivers themselves are seen. When the incident broke out it happened yesterday afternoon around 3:00 PM near Jayanagar 4th Block. This violent debate came to light after a passenger on the premises confronted an auto driver who, simply not using his meter, ironically commented that “no one even uses meters in this day and age.”
The alleged incident had taken place after the passenger had asked for a ride from Jayanagar 4th Block to East End Circle around 3 kilometers. Assuming the previous government-notified rates, this trip would probably have cost about ₹54 (₹36 for the first 2 km and ₹18 for the subsequent km). Rather, the driver insisted on a flat price of ₹150, which amounted to charging ₹50 per kilometer.
“Meter is for Show”: The Viral Upend
The passenger recorded the exchange while he was driving on his mobile phone but pleaded with the driver to turn on the meter, saying he would pay the amount that was on display. The driver’s reaction varied from indifference to mockery.
- Rejection: The driver declined to concede when he told his boss he'd be forced to start if the ₹150 was not fulfilled.
- The Mockery: When the passenger was inquired about the compulsory meter laws, the driver allegedly laughed away saying, “Who even uses a meter nowadays? You won't find anyone.”
- The Irony: Turns out this passenger, in turn, is an auto-rickshaw driver. This brought a sense of professional betrayal to the argument, because the commuter was complaining about the driver bringing a bad name to their entire neighborhood. “It's because of people like you that all auto drivers get a bad name,” the passenger said in the video.
A Bengaluru auto driver gets caught on camera refusing a meter by a passenger who turns out to be an auto driver himself. "You're shaming our community!" 😡 #Bengaluru #NammaMetro #AutoRickshaw #Jayanagar pic.twitter.com/GSWWwXVd7B
— Saptashwa TV (@SaptashwaTV) February 27, 2026
The "Auto-cracy" of Bengaluru escalating
This is not an isolated incident. Just a handful of the city’s 3.45 lakh registered autos had recalibrated their meters to the new August 2025 rates last quarter 2026, transport department data shows. Bengaluru citizens are increasingly frustrated that they can’t find a “meter-ready” auto, they’ve said, leaving them venting on social media. A lot of drivers now prefer app aggregators or flat-rate “offline” bookings, which also evade the fare structures.
Legal Consequences and Laws. RTA (Regional Transport Authority) stated:
- Starting Price: ₹36 for the initial 2 km.
- Per Km: ₹18 per kilometer thereafter
- Law: The refusal to use a meter is a failure to meet all conditions of a permit and may incur a fine of ₹5,000 or the exclusion of the permit.
The Bengaluru Traffic Police (BTP) has called upon the people to report such incidents through the 'Namma 112' helpline or their official social media address with registration number of vehicle.
