Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Jaipur Woman's Viral Post Says Ola Ride Fare Rose After She Helped Driver Refuel

Her account prompted questions about app fare adjustments under gig worker pay pressures.

Overview

  • Ayushi Gupta wrote that her Ola bike driver in Jaipur ran out of petrol, so she chose to walk roughly 1 km with him to a petrol pump before the ride continued.
  • She said her ETA shifted from 6:33 pm to 7:00 pm, the app initially showed Rs 101, and the driver then asked for Rs 7 more after the detour reflected in the fare.
  • Gupta described feeling hurt despite the small amount and later framed the experience as a reminder that empathy is not transactional.
  • Her LinkedIn post went viral and drew mixed reactions, with some users noting that small top‑ups can prevent negative app balances for drivers who rely on daily earnings.
  • Coverage by India Today, News18, and Business Today reported the episode and online responses, and noted that Ola had not issued a public comment at the time of reporting.