Traffic cops want embargo on new cab licences

The traffic police are likely to recommend to the transport authorities to stop issuing new taxicab licences in what is seen as a desperate measure to check the burgeoning vehicle population and decongest Bengaluru’s crowded roads.

Bengaluru has 78 lakh vehicles, 85% of which ply on any given point in time. More than 30,000 taxicabs attached to app-based aggregators are also out on the streets at any hour. But the advent of ride-hailing companies such as Ola and Uber has resulted in an acute shortage of parking space.

“We have no dedicated parking space for these cabs that are a major cause for congestion on the roads,” P Harishekaran, Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic), said. He hastened to add that he didn’t have anything personal against cab aggregators and that the idea behind capping the number of taxicabs was to address the parking problem. “This is not a solution, but at least we can temporarily address traffic congestion and parking problems,” he added.

‘Provide us parking’

Tanveer Pasha, president, Ola, TaxiForSure and Uber Taxi Drivers and Owners’ Association, said they were not against restricting the number of taxicabs but urged the government to provide parking for existing cabs.

“They (transport department) should also conduct a survey on the demand-supply of cabs as the city’s population is rising and take a decision accordingly,” Pasha said. “But they should not give us false promises either.”