Ride-hailing app Uber India on Thursday mentioned it has, over the previous few weeks, raised fares to cushion drivers from the affect of rising gasoline costs throughout many cities in India.

The firm mentioned it at all times strives to make driving with Uber a viable and engaging possibility for drivers, and added that “the recent hike in fares will directly boost their earnings per trip”.

“The hike in fuel prices has impacted everyone, especially ridesharing drivers who have felt the pinch of rising fuel costs,” the corporate mentioned in an announcement because it introduced a slew of recent product options to enhance rider and driver expertise.

In March this 12 months, the primary ever Uber Driver Advisory Council convened, and the driving force members on the council had raised this as a key challenge, it defined.

“Over the past few weeks, we have raised Uber fares to cushion drivers from the impact of rising fuel prices across many cities in India,” the assertion mentioned.

Uber additionally mentioned it’s now displaying journey vacation spot to drivers earlier than they determine to just accept a experience to allow them to make knowledgeable decisions.

Upfront vacation spot function is already stay throughout 20 cities and might be expanded to all others, Uber mentioned in an announcement.

The transfer assumes significance as the federal government just lately warned cab aggregators, together with Ola and Uber, of strict motion until they enhance their techniques and redress mounting client complaints.

On May 10, the federal government held a gathering with the ride-hailing platforms amid an increase in client complaints of alleged unfair commerce practices by them, together with experience cancellation coverage, as drivers at instances power prospects to cancel journeys after accepting bookings, which leads to prospects paying cancellation penalties. The authorities had made it clear that there might be “zero tolerance against such malpractices” by cab aggregators.

Ride-hailing platforms had been suggested to take the shoppers’ complaints with utmost precedence and take remedial steps to make sure satisfactory safety of client rights.

On Thursday, Uber mentioned, “To address issues such as ride cancellations, drivers not turning on the air-conditioning during rides, or refusal to accept online payments, the company has rolled out new measures.” The initiatives embody empowering drivers to make knowledgeable decisions by means of journey vacation spot information.

“We understand the feeling you get when the driver calls and asks the dreaded question: ‘Jana Kahan Hai’ (where do you have to go) and then cancels the trip,” Uber mentioned.

To take away frustration for riders and drivers alike, Uber mentioned it’s now displaying journey locations to drivers earlier than they determine to just accept the experience.

“In our attempt to incentivise right platform behaviour – drivers who meet a predefined trip acceptance threshold will be eligible to get the destination information so that they can make an informed choice. Upfront destination feature is already live across 20 cities and will be expanded to all others,” it mentioned in an announcement.

Uber mentioned it believes the modifications might be appreciated by drivers, and can, in flip, translate into higher expertise for riders.

“With these changes, we are also reinforcing service quality expectations with drivers especially in areas like cancellations and ensuring AC rides,” it mentioned.

In addition to driver notifications and coaching, repeated complaints from riders on these service high quality necessities may result in penalties and even restricted app entry, it mentioned.

Stating that the problems concerned are advanced and “there is no silver bullet”, Uber pledged its dedication to “listening to riders and drivers”.

Acknowledging that drivers ‘understandably’ do not like having to drive out of their solution to choose up passengers, Uber mentioned that to repair the state of affairs, it has launched further earnings for drivers in case they should journey an extended distance to choose up riders.

“This will give drivers the comfort to accept more trips and will benefit riders as trip reliability goes up. Drivers will be able to see the earnings for long pick-ups, separately displayed on the fare receipt,” Uber mentioned.

As drivers need extra flexibility round funds, Uber is now displaying drivers the mode of cost (money or on-line) previous to the journey.

“This enables the driver to choose a cash-only ride if that’s what they need. Going a step further to make the cash or online decision irrelevant, we’ve now introduced a daily pay process for drivers,” in line with Uber.

This will make sure that journey earnings from Monday to Thursday are credited to drivers the subsequent day, whereas earnings from Friday to Sunday, are credited on Monday. “At Uber, our aim is to provide a safe and reliable platform for drivers and riders and any experience that falls short is unacceptable to us,” Nitish Bhushan, Director of Central Operations, Uber India, mentioned.

The new product options like upfront vacation spot, lengthy pickup charges, every day funds, money indicator together with the latest fare hikes ought to tackle reliability and repair high quality considerations in a extra holistic approach, whereas bettering the general expertise for riders and drivers, Bhushan added.