After governments across several states began a crackdown on internet-based taxi providers this week, 1-1.5 million people are likely to be affected. But there are divergent tales emerging after the Uber ban.
One is of chaos at places like airports - where taxis are the most sought - because of overcharging by drivers, taking advantage of the shortage of taxis. Another is of licensed taxi operators going the extra mile to fix the now-dented trust of consumers.
Even without being asked, drivers of Meru are showing their licence to passengers soon after boarding, to assure them of their credentials.
Though implementation of the ban has been patchy, about 10,000 cabs are estimated to be off roads across the country, essentially in the metro cities of Mumbai, Delhi and Hyderabad.
Even as users acknowledge the many lapses by taxi aggregator Uber in the Delhi rape case, most say a blanket ban will make commuting and leisure trips inconvenient.
On Wednesday, two days after the ban, the drop-off area at New Delhi airport was in turmoil. Many passengers for early-morning flights were running behind schedule.
In the wee hours of the morning, most had relied on radio cabs to travel to the airport. The ban had led to a shortage of taxis plying on roads. Though Uber only suspended its operations that afternoon, while others continued to ply, users were already confused about their status.
This week, the central government asked states to ensure stoppage of unlicensed web-based taxi services. While the decision was sparked by the need to regularise the taxi sector and make sure these services were safe to use, the ban might have quite the opposite impact.
A law graduate assisting a senior lawyer complained she left work late, as lawyers put in long hours. "What are the options a woman dependent on public transport has at 1 am?" she asked, adding Uber, Ola and other web-based services were at least relatively safe and affordable.