After Crackdown On Bike Taxis, Delhi Govt May Allow Cab-Aggregators To Ply Only Electric Two-Wheelers

Following the crackdown on app-based cab aggregators like Ola, Uber and Rapido from operating bike taxis in the national capital, the Delhi government may allow only electric two-wheelers to carry passengers.

Policy to be announced soon

The aggregator policy being finalised by the Delhi government proposes to allow only electric two-wheelers to ply as bike taxis, officials said on Tuesday.

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The aggregator policy for two-, three- and four-wheelers is in its final stages and will be rolled out soon, transport minister Kailash Gahlot said on Monday.

Bike taxis become illegal in Delhi

The Delhi government on Monday issued a public notice saying carrying passengers on two-wheelers would be a punishable offence in Delhi and that bike-taxi is a violation of the Motor Vehicles Act.

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The notice reads, "It has been brought to the notice that two-wheelers having Non-Transport (Private) registration mark/number are being used to carry passengers on hire or reward which is a purely commercial operation and in violation of Motor Vehicle Act, 1988 and rules made thereunder."

It says further that the above-said violation is a contravention of the registration condition of the vehicle, which is punishable under Section 192 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, having punishment for the first offence up to Rs. 5000, and for a second or subsequent offence with imprisonment which may extend to one year with fine up to Rs. 10,000 beside impounding of the vehicle.

"In addition to the above punishment, the driving license of the driver will be suspended for a minimum period of three months under the direction of the Hon'ble Supreme Court committee." the notice added.

Bike taxi drivers caught off-guard

Delhi's crackdown on bike taxis has left many drivers in the lurch.

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They said that the government should bring in a policy for them rather than cracking down on them and imposing fines.

"I am a graduate. But could not get a job so decided to register with Ola and use my bike as a two-wheeler taxi. I earn around rs 500-700 daily. Yesterday somebody was telling me that two-wheeler taxis won't be allowed in the capital. I thought it is not the truth. If something of this sort is being planned, the government should first formulate a scheme to make two-wheeler taxi legal," Pramod, a bike-taxi driver, said.

Don't punish drivers: industry body

The Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) has also requested the Delhi government to engage with all stakeholders in the taxi segment before taking any coercive action given the ban on bike taxis.

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"IAMAI requests that the Government of NCT of Delhi engage with all relevant stakeholders - industry associations, digital platforms and affected transportation workers before any coercive action such as the steps mentioned in the public notice are contemplated," the industry, whose members include Ola, Uber etc, said.

Crackdown on bike taxis in other states

States like Karnataka and Maharashtra too have banned app-based cab aggregators from operating bike taxis.

Earlier this month, the Supreme Court had refused to grant relief to bike-taxi aggregator Rapido against the Maharashtra government's denial of licence to it.

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