'Rs 700 For 1.8 km': Gurgaon Man Criticises Uber And Ola Surge Pricing; Here's What He Said

Pandey’s post humorously proposed that if he had invested in Uber's surge pricing model rather than the stock market, he could have surpassed the infamous stockbroker Harshad Mehta in terms of profits

The frustration with surge pricing in cab services has reached a breaking point, with professionals and daily commuters expressing dissatisfaction with the sudden price surge on these platforms. In a recent LinkedIn post, Surya Pandey, a Product Management professional at Sprinklr, pointed out the irony that companies like Uber and Ola, once celebrated for improving cab accessibility and affordability, are now associated with sky-high fares and unreliable service.

Pandey’s post humorously proposed that if he had invested in Uber's surge pricing model rather than the stock market, he could have surpassed the infamous stockbroker Harshad Mehta in terms of profits. “If only I had the foresight to invest in Uber's surge pricing instead of the stock market, I'd be outpacing Harshad Mehta by now!” he wrote on LinkedIn.

He added that after just three raindrops in Gurugram, you’re faced with a screen showing 300 per cent higher fares for a ride—only to be left waiting for three hours. Pandey highlighted the absurdity of surge pricing triggered by even the slightest drizzle. 

“Isn’t it ironic when the problem your product originally set out to solve becomes its biggest flaw? Take Uber, Rapido, Ola, etc, for instance. They started as the solution to cab accessibility and affordability. Fast forward to today, and after just three raindrops in Gurugram, you’re staring at a screen demanding 300% more for a ride—only to be left stranded for three hours,” he wrote.

Giving a solution to the problem, he wrote, “My creative solution? Head to the parking exit and kindly ask anyone leaving for a lift home. P.S. The distance was a mere 1.8 km. And seriously, who decided that a 7-seater should cost more than a WagonR?”

His sentiment struck a chord with many, who are increasingly seeking alternative transportation options—whether that means relying on the kindness of strangers or choosing traditional taxis.

“I travel a lot thru the day, but I stopped using Ola or Uber when in cities like Mumbai, Delhi or Kolkata. they are definitely not the reliable source of booking taxis. mostly kali-peelis are better and their charges are also static. You book an Uber and then you have to pray that he will not ditch you after you have wasted your time for him to come, and then you end up getting overcharged for the same distance you could have covered. Specially with Uber I had to get my billing corrected as they show a different charge at the booking and charge differently when you get down, only cause the driver took you for a ride!” reads one of the comments.

Another user wrote: “That's true for real!! I remember taking a lift from random bike riders during my internship period in Gurugram in the previous month.”