Agency: Commuters across the country are voicing growing concerns over exorbitant taxi fares, with complaints about inconsistent pricing and lack of enforcement of official rates becoming increasingly frequent. Once an occasional issue, the problem has become more pronounced, particularly on local routes where passengers are often unaware of the correct fares. While some passengers acknowledge the financial difficulties faced by taxi drivers, the absence of clear regulations and widespread awareness of fare rules has led to calls for solutions that ensure fairness for both passengers and drivers.
Sangay, a resident of Samdrup Jongkhar, recently experienced being overcharged first hand. He was charged Nu 200 for a taxi ride that should have cost Nu 150, but being new to the area, he accepted the driver’s fare without question.
“Without hesitation, the driver said Nu 200. I later found out the official rate was Nu 150. While it didn’t stop me from using taxis, it left me with a bad impression regarding transparency,” Sangay said.
Similarly, Tshering Choden, a Thimphu resident, recounted a similar experience. She was charged Nu 150 for a ride from town to Kawajangsa, despite knowing the official fare was Nu 120.
“In a rush, I didn’t argue and paid the higher fare,” she said.
According to Tshering, overcharging is especially common on routes such as Motithang, Pamtsho, and Jungshina, where shared taxis are difficult to find.
“Drivers often justify the higher fare by saying there’s no shared service or assuming newcomers don’t know the rates,” she added.
The commuters expressed their frustration with drivers imposing their own fare rates despite the existence of official regulations.
“It’s frustrating when drivers disregard the system and set their own rates. There’s a system to ensure fairness, but it’s often ignored,” Sangay said.
Overcharging appears to be more frequent on local routes where taxis are scarce or during times of high demand. Tshering noted that taxi drivers often overcharge passengers who are unfamiliar with the area, and in some cases, drivers even refuse rides if passengers aren’t willing to pay the inflated fare.
