The Karnataka authorities has made reserving of autorickshaws on the ride-hailing apps of Ola and Uber unlawful from Wednesday. The choice was taken following a gathering between the Karnataka Transport and Street Security Division and the representatives of the cab aggregators Tuesday.
The division has mentioned {that a} penalty of Rs 5,000 per automobile can be levied on the cab aggregators as a first-time offence in case they function three-wheelers.
Nonetheless, in the course of the assembly, the cab aggregating firms determined to file an software earlier than the transport division to allow them to mixture three-wheelers in Karnataka.
The three-day deadline that the federal government issued to cab aggregators to cease providing auto companies ended Tuesday.
In line with T H M Kumar, Commissioner of Street Transport and Security Division, the cab aggregators have submitted a proposal to mixture three-wheelers and concern them licence to function them. “The cab aggregators have submitted a formulation for fixing the fare to legalise three-wheelers whereby, they are going to be charging Rs 30 as the bottom value (as per authorities guidelines), plus a GST of 5% plus a comfort charge. We can be receiving an software from the aggregators tomorrow, which can be forwarded to the federal government to take motion,” mentioned Kumar.
Kumar additionally admitted that the autorickshaws, till now, have been illegally operated by the cab aggregators and a report on the matter can be submitted to the federal government shortly.
The transport division has additionally given a letter to the cab aggregators to disable the bookings for three-wheelers on their apps from Wednesday. If they don’t adjust to the order, the division will concern a directive to the cyber crime division to dam the autorickshaw companies on cab aggregator apps, mentioned the officers.
Kumar mentioned the transport division would search knowledge from the businesses on the variety of violations that may happen from Wednesday.
In the meantime, representatives from the autorickshaw drivers’ neighborhood demanded an entire ban on the three-wheeler companies provided by Ola and Uber. Amrutesh N P, a lawyer representing the Bharata Transportation Affiliation Group, mentioned, “The federal government ought to strictly ban Ola and Uber autos as a substitute of conspiring with the cab aggregators and permitting them to loot the individuals and devastate the lives of the auto drivers,” If the federal government is accepting their proposal to legalise autos, then who’s accountable for operating autorickshaws illegally for the previous seven years? Amrutesh requested.
Satish Kumar, an auto driver who often earns Rs 1,000 a day, mentioned cab aggregators have ruined his livelihood. “Thirty p.c of the earnings go to the corporate, leaving me with little or no cash. I can’t pay the admission charges for my youngsters nor run the household affairs. Furthermore, we’re being charged Rs 600 month-to-month as platform charges. We’re comfortable to return to meter fare,” Kumar mentioned.
Syed Nawaz, one other auto driver, mentioned, “We would like the federal government to set the minimal value at Rs 50, a rise from Rs 30. Now we have to pay our gas fees, clear our loans, preserve our family, and what we earn by means of apps is inadequate. We get Rs 400 as an incentive for 8 rides out of which Rs 250 goes to the corporate.”
The federal government started the crackdown on auto companies provided by cab aggregators after passengers complained of fleecing them. The cab aggregators additionally didn’t have the licence to supply auto companies as per the RTO guidelines.