Govt may extend deadline to shut Ola Share, UberPool

The 15-day deadline set by the Transport Department for Ola and Uber to halt their ride-sharing services in Bengaluru could be extended.

The Transport Department has written to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, seeking its opinion on legalising Ola Share and UberPOOL. The department has decided to wait until the ministry responds. “No decision has been taken yet on extending the deadline which will expire on February 17. We will seek legal opinion on what action to take thereafter,” Transport Commissioner M K Aiyappa said.

He reiterated that the car-pooling services were illegal as per the Motor Vehicles Act. Ola Share and UberPOOL involve picking up individual passengers from different locations and dropping them at the destination of their choice. Ola and Uber have contract carriage permits, which means they cannot pick up passengers from different locations. “In the letter, we have mentioned permitting car-pooling by changing the contract carriage licensing rules. We are expecting a clarification on this from the ministry,” Aiyappa said.