The Competition Promotion and Consumer Protection Committee of Uzbekistan has launched an official inquiry into taxi aggregators to examine the justification behind recent price surges and potential signs of unfair competition. The regulatory intervention comes amid mounting public dissatisfaction over soaring travel costs during peak hours.

Reports indicate that technological disruptions experienced by a major market player caused a domino effect, leading competing ride-hailing services to drastically raise their fares. Market participants noted that between October 11 and 13, orders on alternative platforms multiplied significantly, severely straining local transportation infrastructure.

In response to the public outcry, the regulatory committee has formally requested operators to revise their algorithmic pricing mechanisms. Authorities emphasized the necessity of preventing artificial and unjustified price hikes that disproportionately burden everyday consumers.

Furthermore, the investigation addresses the grievances of drivers cooperating with these platforms. Aggregators have been instructed to resolve technical glitches regarding payout transfers, lift unjustified driver account blocks, and properly calculate and distribute all outstanding performance bonuses.

The regulatory body warned that if the ongoing review uncovers any violations of competition laws or infringements on consumer rights, appropriate administrative measures will be enforced in accordance with established legal procedures.

Source: kun.uz