App-based taxi firms must come clean: Rai

Alleging that the app-based taxi services like Uber have indulged in “cheating the trust of Delhi government”, Transport Minister Gopal Rai on Friday said the companies should come clean by furnishing the data of drivers and their vehicles and complying with the stipulated safety guidelines.

His statement comes a day after a section of Uber drivers had met Rai and raised their issues before him.

The Aam Aadmi Party government on Wednesday had rejected fresh applications for licence by US-based taxi-hailing firm Uber and two other such service providers –  TaxiForSure and Ola.

Issuing a statement, he said, “I have met drivers associations over the last two days and they told me that they have submitted all their details with the offices of these companies located at Gurgaon. Then why are these companies hesitant to share the data with the transport department.”

Rai said the web-based services have failed to adhere to the ban on app-based services in December 2014.

The ban was imposed after an Uber driver was accused of raping his passenger.
“Delhi government told them that their pending applications for fresh licences will be considered if they agree to adhere to the existing ban on them, furnish the data of drivers and their vehicles within a week and give an undertaking that they will comply with safety regulations, particularly for women commuters,” Rai said in a statement.

“It is extremely surprising that despite agreeing in the meeting, these companies did not furnish the data within the time limit agreed to by them. It was due to this, that their pending applications for fresh licences was rejected,” the statement added.

Meanwhile, the Delhi Traffic Police, which has been tasked with imposing the ban, has asked Delhiites to avail the services of only licensed taxi providers.