Woman Books Rapido Pink Ride, Finds Male Driver At Pickup; Rapido Responds

A social media post criticising Rapido Pink, the company’s women-focused ride service, has sparked a discussion online after an Instagram creator alleged that a male driver was assigned to her booking.

Content creator Shalini Chaturvedi said she had specifically selected the Pink service expecting a female captain. However, according to her account shared in a viral Instagram reel, she received a call from a male driver.

Woman Says Male Driver Was Assigned To Pink Ride

In the video, Chaturvedi claimed that she questioned the driver after realising that the person assigned to the ride was a man.

According to her account, the driver responded by telling her, “Madam, I’m gay.” Chaturvedi said she had booked the Pink service because she expected the ride to be handled by a female captain.

She subsequently decided not to take the ride.

The creator also alleged that the profile photograph displayed for the assigned captain appeared to show a woman, while a man arrived at the pickup point. She said this made her uncomfortable because the driver had seen her and knew the location of her building.

Cancellation Fee Adds To Her Concerns

Chaturvedi said she cancelled the booking after the incident but was shown a ₹15 cancellation charge for a trip that she said would have cost around ₹25.

In the caption accompanying her reel, she questioned whether women were effectively paying more for a service intended to provide greater safety while still facing gaps in the system.

Her post subsequently drew attention online, with users discussing the need for stronger verification and accountability on ride-hailing platforms.

Rapido Says Pink Rides Are For Female Captains

Rapido responded to the post and apologised for the experience described by the creator.

The company said Pink rides are specifically intended to be assigned to female captains and said it would investigate how the booking was assigned to a male captain.

Rapido also said it would examine the driver's conduct and review the cancellation fee. According to the company, a cancellation charge should not have been imposed under the circumstances described by the customer.

The company asked Chaturvedi to share her registered phone number and ride ID privately so that the matter could be investigated.

Incident Raises Questions About Ride-Hailing Safety

The episode has triggered broader conversations on social media about safety checks, driver verification and accountability on app-based transportation platforms.

Some users shared similar complaints involving driver or vehicle mismatches, while others questioned how effectively ride-hailing companies monitor service quality after a booking is made.

Rapido Pink is designed to connect women passengers with female bike captains. The latest incident has therefore drawn particular attention because the booking, according to the creator's account, did not match the service she had selected.

The claims made in the viral video have not independently established the circumstances of the booking. Rapido has said it is investigating the matter.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Susmita Modak

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Always love to raise the unraised matter. In a world of worries, I am always ready to come over my comfort zone and taking the step ahead of spreading awareness.

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