Shared cabs to continue in Delhi but with a few riders

To bring the entire cab aggregator network under the organised sector, the government decided to frame a separate policy, which would be different from the City Taxi Scheme, 2017.

You can continue to share cab rides in Delhi as the government has decided not to ban it. It is instead tweaking draft taxi rules in favour of the service.

To bring the entire cab aggregator network under the organised sector, the government decided to frame a separate policy, which would be different from the City Taxi Scheme, 2017. (AFP)

Changing its stand, the Delhi government has removed a clause from the draft rules that prohibited share or pool rides as they were not permissible under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.

In fact, to bring the entire cab aggregator network under the organised sector, the government decided to frame a separate policy, which would be different from the City Taxi Scheme, 2017.

Titled as the ‘Licensing and Regulation of App Based Cab Aggregators Rules, 2017’, these guidelines will govern cab operators such as Ola and Uber, which currently are plying without licences in the absence of any rules. The City Taxi Scheme, 2017, on the other hand, will be for the economy and deluxe taxis such as the kaali-peelis.

The rules, which are still being drafted, will remove surge pricing. For this, the government is fixing a maximum fare, charging beyond which would attract heavy fines.

“There are around 1.5 lakh Ola/Uber taxis plying on city roads. The number has increased manifold in just less than two years. A regulatory framework has to be brought to make them legal,” an official said.

In case a passenger reports a misconduct amounting to an offence during the journey, it will be the aggregator’s responsibility to file a police complaint.

Non-reporting of any offence to the police will attract a fine of Rs 1 lakh for each complaint.

The aggregator will have a portal for registration of complaints, including those that are criminal in nature.

Installation of panic button in cabs, drivers with PSV badges and fixed working hours will have to be ensured by the aggregators The government will also build a 24x7 control centre for monitoring the cabs.

The new rules, however, are being opposed by taxi unions, which are against giving permits to app-based taxis as they feel it would adversely affect their business.

“Shared rides must be stopped until amendments are made in the Motor Vehicles Act. We have also requested the government that non-Delhi registered cabs should not be allowed to be aggregated with app cab aggregators,” said Inderjeet Singh, president of Rajdhani Parivahan Panchayat.