A Bengaluru-based entrepreneur recently took to social media to describe a “deeply uncomfortable and dangerous” experience during a taxi ride to the Delhi airport ahead of a summit on the impact of India’s artificial intelligence.
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Dhananjay Yadav, CEO of NeoSapien, posted on X that he booked an AC taxi through the Namma Yatri app. However, the driver allegedly refused to switch on the AC and insisted that it was a ‘non-AC’ journey despite the reservation.
Here is what happened
In a post on X, Yadav wrote: “I almost felt like a hostage on the cab ride to the airport today. I booked an AC cab through @nammayatri for my flight to Delhi (Impact AI Summit). The driver refused to turn on the AC and claimed it was a non-AC ride – even though the app clearly indicated otherwise.”
“He then checked the fare on my phone for Rs 844 and demanded an extra charge saying it was a ‘metered taxi’ at Rs 24/km. I insisted I pay according to the app. He refused. When I asked him to drop me off so I could book another taxi, he said he wouldn’t let me go until I paid Rs 844. I ended up having to take it to the airport. and dangerous experience I brought up complaint and I hope that the safety of customers will not be compromised,” he added.
Namma Yatri apologizes
Namma Yatri later apologized for the incident and confirmed that a full refund had been issued. In its reply, the company said: “Hi Dhananjay, we apologize for your unpleasant experience. We have spoken to you on the phone, the refund has been processed and necessary steps are being taken to ensure your future rides are safe and hassle-free. Thank you for your support.”
Netizens react
At the time of writing, the post has garnered 273 comments, 1,000 reposts, 6,300 likes and 195 bookmarks along with 675,200 views.
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“Looks like taxi drivers across Pune and Banglore need a belt treatment. Can someone educate them on how AC doesn’t make that much of a difference,” wrote a user.
The user replied: “This is not a Namma yatri problem, it’s a Bengaluru problem. Asking them to turn on the AC is like inviting trouble. I’ve traveled across 20 cities in India and nowhere do taxis and autos behave like they do in Bengaluru. The reason: they are heavily patronized and supported by regional political organizations.”
Another user commented, “In such cases, instead of arguing with the drivers, pay them online and share them with the company and get a refund, that’s a better thing.”
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A user reported: “This is a very serious problem: app-based taxi drivers have effectively become hostages to these drivers. I have seen this in Pune, Delhi, Bengaluru…severity may vary but the problem is the same. There must be strict rules and stricter enforcement in driver agreements. Customers have not signed up for this kind of mental harassment.”
India AI Impact Summit 2026
Held from February 16 to 20 in conjunction with the India AI Impact Summit 2026, the event marks the official launch of the initiative. It is the first international summit on artificial intelligence to be held in the Global South.
Conceived as a nationwide showcase of AI in action, the Summit brings policy discussions, innovation and large-scale implementation to a single platform.
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Spread across 10 arenas over 70,000 square meters, the Expo will showcase global technology firms, startups, academic and research institutions, union ministries, state governments and international partners.
Thirteen country pavilions highlight global collaboration in the artificial intelligence ecosystem with participation from Australia, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Serbia, Estonia, Tajikistan and several African countries.
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More than 300 curated exhibition pavilions and live demonstrations are presented in three themed ‘chakras’ i.e. People, Planet and Progress, highlighting the broad impact of AI across sectors.
In addition, more than 600 high-potential startups are participating, many of which are developing globally relevant population-scale AI solutions that are already being deployed in real-world environments.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to deliver the inaugural address at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 on Thursday, February 19, marking a major step towards deeper global cooperation and strengthening India’s vision of inclusive, trusted and development-oriented artificial intelligence (AI), ANI reported.
The Summit, the first global AI meeting to be held in the Global South, will be held from February 16 to 20 at the Bharat Mandapam.
I almost felt like a hostage on the taxi ride to the airport today.
Customer safety cannot be compromised.
It will bring together policymakers, technology leaders, researchers, startups and investors from around the world to showcase practical applications of AI and strengthen international partnerships in the rapidly evolving AI landscape.
(With input from agencies)
Key things
- Taxi services must prioritize customer safety and adhere to booking agreements.
- Incidents of driver misconduct are common and require stricter enforcement and guidelines.
- Social media can amplify customer complaints and hold companies accountable for service failures.