RTA impounds UberMOTO bikes for using white number plates, notice issued

Cracking the whip on bike taxis running on white registration number plates instead of the mandatory yellow, the Gurgaon regional transport authority impounded 15 bikes of app-based cab aggregator UberMOTO. It also served notice to the company to explain violations under the Motor Vehicles Act (MVA), despite earlier reminders.

Cracking the whip on bike taxis running on white registration number plates instead of the mandatory yellow, the Gurgaon regional transport authority impounded 15 bikes of app-based cab aggregator UberMOTO. It also served notice to the company to explain violations under the Motor Vehicles Act (MVA), despite earlier reminders.

HT Image

According to sources from the RTA, the company was earlier cautioned about the practice but it failed to follow the norms.

“We carried out surprise checks on the company’s two-wheeler service on Friday and found that the bikes with white number plates were being used for passenger services. At least 15 bikes were impounded. Notice has been served to the company to explain why its licence should not be cancelled,” a senior RTA official told HT.

UberMoto, bike-sharing initiative by Uber, came under the scanner after it was launched by Gurgaon commissioner of police Navdeep Singh Virk on March 29. Bikes with white number plates were used at the launch.

In response to HT’s question on the status of white number plate bikes, a representative of Uber’s PR agency replied, “Currently, we are running UberMoto in Gurgaon and Ahmedabad.” There was no response to calls and text messages about seizing of bikes and the RTA notice.