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A Delhi-based animal NGO owner was charged Rs 487 for a pet taxi, while a regular cab for the same 5km distance costs just Rs 150.
After Uber’s exorbitant charge for a 5km ride, actor Swastika Mukherjee criticised the company. (Image: Instagram/@swastikamukherjee13 and Getty Images)
Actor Swastika Mukherjee has voiced her support for Rakshita Singh, a Delhi-based animal NGO owner, after she was charged Rs 487 for a 5km Uber pet taxi ride – over three times the Rs 150 fare for a regular cab. Mukherjee questioned Uber’s pricing, asking, “Where is the compassion?”
It all started after an Uber driver reportedly asked Singh to vacate the cab upon realising she was carrying a basket of puppies, despite it being a medical emergency.
“Extremely disappointed with Uber!” wrote Singh in an Instagram post.
She added, “This evening, I booked an Uber to take puppies to the vet, as one of them had been feeling quite unwell. When the driver arrived, I carefully placed their cosy baskets in the back seat and provided him with the OTP for the ride.”
“Upon seeing the baskets, the driver suddenly raised his eyebrows and questioned me about their contents. I explained with concern in my voice that they were, in fact, puppies. To my astonishment, he coldly responded that I needed to exit cab immediately, insisting that it was a regular vehicle intended solely for human passengers and not for animals,” Singh went on to say.
When Singh pleaded with the driver, explaining that it was a medical emergency, he dismissed her concerns, saying it wasn’t his problem and insisted she book a pet taxi instead. “This kind of behaviour is absolutely unacceptable and warrants serious attention. In all my years of using Uber, I have never encountered such a lack of compassion. I was left feeling incredibly shocked and disappointed by this incident, realising that empathy should not be a rare commodity in our society, especially when it comes to our furry companions,” she further expressed.
Singh revealed that when she booked a pet taxi through Uber, the fare was three times higher than that of a regular cab for the same 5km distance.
Swastika Mukherjee reshared Singh’s post on Instagram and asked, “Where is the compassion? What do you have to say about this? Requesting all pet parents and everyone to share this as much as possible. We need answers!”
Uber’s response to the incident
“We introduced Uber Pet to meet the growing demand from pet owners who want an easy way to travel using Uber with their furry companions. It ensures that there is a safe and convenient ride available when you are traveling with your pets while providing additional earning opportunities for drivers,” Uber spokesperson said in a statement.
The statement further noted, “The surcharge for Uber Pet covers the costs associated with vehicle cleaning and maintenance to ensure that the car is ready and comfortable for subsequent riders. At Uber, we are committed to providing a smooth, reliable experience for both pet owners and drivers.”
