Rapido deserves appreciation as a startup that has brought flexible earning opportunities to many people. It allows individuals to earn part-time or full-time, supporting unemployed youth, economically weaker sections, and people looking for dignified work.

By enabling lakhs of gig workers to earn, Rapido contributes to the economy and helps people survive in difficult times. This kind of opportunity should be encouraged and protected.

At the same time, appreciation does not mean ignoring reality. To improve, we must honestly look at Rapido from two sides:
Customers and Captains.

Two Views: Customer and Captain

1. Customer’s Point of View

Rapido today offers multiple services:

• Bike rides
• Parcel delivery
• Auto-rickshaw rides
• Car services
• Food delivery

Customers find the app easy to use for booking rides, sending parcels, or ordering food. However, there are recurring issues:

Customer Issues and Risks

• After booking, some captains cancel before reaching the location, which wastes customers’ time and results in the ride not being provided.
• Repeated cancellations waste time and money.
• In many cases, the vehicle number or captain does not match what is shown in the app.
• For parcel services, customers worry about delays, cancellations, or lack of accountability.
• In auto and car services, customers fear safety risks, especially during late hours.
• In food delivery, delays and cancellations occur without clear responsibility.

How Customers Can Protect Themselves

• Always verify the captain’s photo, vehicle number, and service type.
• Do not take rides if the vehicle or person does not match.
• Avoid offline rides, even if cheaper.
• If there is any doubt, ask to see a driving licence (even a soft copy).
• Use only in-app services so trips are tracked and supported.
• Report issues through the app to build accountability.

Customer safety and trust must be the foundation of the platform.

2. Captain’s Point of View

Many genuine captains work honestly and struggle daily to earn. However, some unsafe practices harm everyone:

Unsafe Practices by Some Users

• Using someone else’s Rapido ID
• Riding different bikes or vehicles not registered
• Number plate mismatches
• Driving without a valid licence
• Threatening customers to cancel rides
• Accepting offline rides and parcels

These practices create serious safety risks and reduce trust in the platform.

Captain Risks and Safety Measures

• After booking, some captains reach the location and then the customer cancel, for which capitans do not get compensated.
  Offline parcel deliveries may contain illegal or dangerous items.
• Offline rides provide no insurance or app support.
• Using another person’s account can lead to legal trouble.

Captains should:

• Use only their own verified accounts
• Ride only the registered vehicle
• Avoid offline rides and parcel deliveries
• Follow app rules to protect themselves and customers

Auto, Car, and Food Services: Added Responsibility, Added Risk

As Rapido expands into auto-rickshaws, cars, and food delivery, safety becomes even more important.

Auto & Car Services

• Longer rides increase safety risks
• Identity verification must be stricter
• Night rides require additional caution

Food Delivery

• Captains face pressure due to delays they cannot control
• Customers face hygiene and delivery concerns
• Offline food deliveries should be avoided completely

Both sides must stay within the app for tracking, safety, and accountability.

Offline Rides: Unsafe for Everyone

Offline rides may look cheaper, but they are dangerous:

• No tracking
• No insurance
• No support

Customers should refuse rides if:

• Vehicle number does not match
• Captain identity does not match

Captains should refuse:

• Offline rides
• Unknown parcels

Safety must come before money.

Rapido’s Role: Stricter but Fair

Rapido has started charging, banning, and suspending accounts in some reported cases. This is good, but:

• Many users are unaware of actions taken
• Enforcement feels inconsistent
• Communication is unclear

Rapido needs:

• More transparency
• Stricter verification
• Consistent penalties
• Clear safety education

Pricing, Commission, and Real Earnings

This is where dissatisfaction grows on both sides.

• Customers feel prices are too high
• Captains feel earnings are too low

After Rapido’s commission, fuel costs, vehicle maintenance, and daily expenses, captains are left with very little.

Rapido does provide services and deserves commission — that is fair.
But the commission should be reasonable, especially when petrol prices keep rising.

Psychological Pressure on Captains

The app shows:

• Performance ratings
• Thumbs-down images
• Ads and YouTube subscription links

While intended as motivation, these features can feel manipulative, pressuring captains to work more even when earnings are low.

Motivation should not turn into mental pressure.

“Captain” — A Proud Word, But Respect Matters More

The word “Captain” is used to make workers feel proud, and that is positive.

But:

• Any honest work deserves respect
• Titles alone do not create dignity
• Equal respect, fair pay, and humane treatment matter more than labels

Pride without fair income is empty.

Taxes and Gig Workers

Gig workers already struggle to survive.

Heavy taxation on gig earnings feels unjust.
At this rate, it feels like one day even donations to beggars might be taxed.

At minimum:

• Gig workers should have lower or zero tax slabs
• Policies should protect survival-level earnings

Let workers at least cover petrol, maintenance, and daily needs.

Balance Is the Only Way Forward

For Rapido to truly succeed:

• Customers need safety, trust, and fair pricing
• Captains need respect, safety, and sustainable income
• Rapido needs growth with responsibility
• Government policies should support gig workers, not burden them

Lower commission, minimal customer charges, stronger safety rules, and fair treatment can create a system where everyone is satisfied.

At the end of the day, a platform works only when all sides win.