Maharashtra government drags feet on surge pricing of Ola, Uber

More than 90 days have passed since the Khatua panel submitted its report, but the state is yet to take a decision on surge pricing of app-based cabs of aggregators.

More than 90 days have passed since the Khatua panel submitted its report on October 10, but the state government is yet to take a decision on surge pricing of app-based cabs of aggregators like Ola and Uber.

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The report was made public on October 23 and is now waiting for a decision from the state transport department. The department has taken no action on it, except taking feedback on the report from the transport commissioner’s office, which is led by transport secretary Manoj Saunik himself.

While a sub-committee of chiefs from the Wadala and Andheri RTOs has been formed to give feedback from the transport commissioner’s office, but department officials said that the government is just trying to delay the report by doing so.

An RTO official questioned the need of appointing a panel of RTO officials, when the Khatua panel itself comprised a former IAS official, a former transport commissioner, a chartered accountant and a legal expert. “It clearly indicates that the government is just buying time,” said an RTO official, who is not authorised to speak to media.

The panel led by former IAS officer BC Khatua submitted its report on October 10, 2017.

Owing to the suggestions made by the panel, the minimum fare of conventional black and yellow cabs and autorickshaws might rise to Rs23 and Rs19 instead of Rs22 and Rs18.

AL Quadros, veteran taxi union leader, said that their business continues to be hit because of app-based taxis. “In the next hearing, we are going to plead in the high court that it should direct the government to either implement City Taxi Rules or Khatua panel report immediately,”said Quadros.