The temporary suspension of BEST bus services following a fatal accident at Kurla railway station has left commuters stranded and vulnerable to exploitation by autorickshaw drivers. Over the past three days, passengers have been charged exorbitant fares, with many forced to pay R250-R300 for short distances, as alternative transport options remained unavailable. A mid-day investigation revealed a sharp rise in overcharging and refusal to ply by meter, pushing desperate commuters—including women and senior citizens—to chase shared autos or negotiate inflated fares.

In a recent investigation by the mid-day team, reporters found that autorickshaw drivers were demanding exorbitant fares, ranging from R250 to R300, for a trip of just 4.2 kilometres, from Kurla to Kherwadi in Bandra East.