Cab aggregators apply for licences as crackdown intensifies

The State Transport Authority has written to the Bengaluru Central Regional Transport Office (RTO) for the physical verification of information provided by Ola and TaxiForSure in their licence application.  Based on the RTO report, the Authority will take a call on granting licence to the two cab aggregators.

Though the new rule - Karnataka On-Demand Transportation Technology Aggregators Rules, 2016 - came into force on April 2 in the state, aggregators had continued to flout the norms in the new rule.

This spelt serious trouble for cab owners as the Transport department launched a special drive to penalise them, citing violation of permit conditions.

As the crackdown against them was intensified, Ola and TaxiForSure have turned up to furnish mandatory supporting documents to expedite the licence process. According to sources in the Authority, Ola and TaxiForSure have submitted documents like security deposit in the form of bank guarantee, information pertaining to safety measures adopted like GPS and panic button in the cabs on Friday. 

Ramegowda, Commissioner for Transport and Road Safety, said Ola and TaxiForSure have submitted the required documents seeking licence to run their business. But other aggregators like Uber are yet to give mandatory information to the department. “We have written to the RTO to verify the address proof and other details mentioned in the licence application. The report is awaited,” he said. The status of the application in the RTO is unknown as the official concerned has gone on leave.

Though the licence process has gained momentum, the department is firm on continuing its crackdown on online taxis till the aggregators are legally permitted to continue their business. No less than 700 cab owners were penalised by the department during their 10-day drive to seize illegal cabs.

160 cabs seized

The Transport department on Saturday seized over 160 cabs belonging to Ola, TaxiForSure and Uber in the city. The seizure was the part of its drive launched against online taxis plying without mandatory licences. Saturday's crackdown was in locations like Silk Board, Diary Circle and Electronic City.