Karnataka / Karnataka tells Ola Uber Stop offering autorickshaw rides in 3 days or face action

Zoom News : Oct 07, 2022, 05:34 PM
The Karnataka Transport Department has issued notices to cab aggregator services Ola and Uber and bike taxi aggregator Rapido. In fact, many commuters had complained about surge pricing by autorickshaws operating under these platforms. Commuters say that due to these apps, the fare of autorickshaw has increased. After this, on Thursday, the Karnataka government has issued a notice to these cab aggregators. In its circular, the transport department has pulled up aggregators for offering rides on autorickshaws without a license. Along with this, the department has said that they should stop offering autorickshaw rides from their app in three days.

As reported by The Indian Express, the department said that if cab aggregators and vehicle owners are found to be violating the government order, they will be booked. A senior transport official said, “The price hike by apps has always been under the scrutiny of the transport department. Despite repeated warnings, cab aggregators have not changed their ways. After a meeting on Thursday, we have decided to treat the autorickshaw facilities offered by cab aggregators as illegal."

The decision has come after complaints from passengers. Commuters say that there is a limit of Rs 30 for autorickshaw ride but these apps are charging minimum Rs 100 for it. As per government rules, auto rickshaws must charge a minimum fare of Rs 30 for the first two kilometers and Rs 15 for each subsequent kilometer.

The circular also states that cab aggregators are granted license to provide cab services only. M Manjunath, President, Adarsh ​​Auto and Taxi Drivers Union, Bengaluru and Mysore said, “We are not as accustomed to Ola/Uber as customers. We can switch to our normal journey and charge the customers as per the meter. But both the government and the cab companies have been destroying the lives of auto drivers for many years. Cab companies do not pay our incentives nor do we get any surge pricing benefits. Meanwhile all the auto drivers are demanding that the transport department should start providing auto services, but they are not paying attention to our demands. Many of these policy issues are resulting in bad name for the drivers and affecting their livelihood.”

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