Karnataka transport minister B Sriramulu mentioned on Saturday that he ordered officers to impound Ola and Uber auto-rickshaws in Bengaluru after receiving complaints relating to the cab aggregators working the companies regardless of authorities instructions to cease it with instant impact.
He mentioned notices had been issued to aggregators reminiscent of Ola and Uber for “violations of norms” and that he would determine the following plan of action in a few days.
“Ola and Uber are supposed to assist commuters with out inflicting them any bother, however we’re getting complaints yearly. Additionally, there are specific technical points concerned, so discover has been issued to them,” Sriramulu mentioned.
On Thursday, the Karnataka State Street Transport Authority (KSRTA) issued a discover directing the app-based cab aggregators to cease ‘unlawful’ auto-rickshaw hailing companies within the metropolis with instant impact, citing a “violation of norms”.
Within the discover, the KSRTA mentioned whereas the cab aggregators have been allowed to run the internet-based software taxi aggregator companies underneath the Karnataka On-Demand Transportation Expertise Aggregators Rule-2016, sure situations had been laid down, reminiscent of fee fixation amongst others, whereas granting licences, that are being violated.
When instructed that autos had been working regardless of discover and instructions to cease, the Minister mentioned, “I’ve despatched officers, I’ve ordered them to grab Ola and Uber autos working regardless of instructions.”
“As per the foundations, solely taxi companies could be offered and taxi means a motor cab having a seating capability not exceeding six passengers, excluding the motive force with a public service allow on contract,” KSRTA officers mentioned, including that licences issued to Ola and Uber expired final 12 months and that they will’t act towards the aggregators due to a case pending earlier than the Karnataka excessive courtroom.
The KSRTA has given the cab aggregators three days to reply to the discover and share particulars with the transport division on the autorickshaw companies being provided by them, officers mentioned.
In the meantime, Tanveer Pasha, President of the Ola-Uber Drivers and House owners’ Affiliation, mentioned the aggregator licence was solely meant for motor cabs, and never auto-rickshaws. He alleged that the cab aggregators had been charging extra fares from passengers.
Pasha additionally mentioned the affiliation complained about this reference to the transport division a 12 months in the past however to no avail. He blamed the division for the delayed motion.
ANI Applied sciences Personal Restricted, which operates Ola, declined to touch upon the problem. The transport division authorities had been additionally not accessible for remark.