Mumbai commute: Ola, Uber trips to get safer, RTOs to crack down on overpricing

Mumbai city news: Those using tourist taxis as app-based cabs could be sent to jail for three months

Do you rely on Ola and Uber for your daily commute? Good news, regional transport offices in Mumbai plan to make these app-based cab aggregators comply with rules aimed at making passengers’ journeys safer and preventing overpricing.

Under the Maharashtra government’s city taxi scheme, those who own and drive Uber and Ola vehicles must get a separate permit. (HT File Photo)

Under the Maharashtra government’s city taxi scheme, those who own and drive Uber and Ola vehicles must get a separate permit. The transport commissioner’s office plans to enforce these rules for the first time since Ola and Uber launched their services in Mumbai in 2014.

The move came after the department received a negligible number of applications for new taxi permits over the past 25 days. Such permits are compulsory for app-based taxis under the new Maharashtra City Taxi Rules 2017.

Sources said the transport commissioner’s office met the flying squads of all 10 RTO and deputy RTOs in the Mumbai Metroplitan Region on Wednesday and directed them to begin their crackdown against Ola and Uber cabs immediately.

An inspector from the motor vehicle department said that if any all-India tourist taxi was found ferrying passengers as an app-based cab, the driver would be booked under section 66/192A of the Motor Vehicle Act for breach of permit conditions.

“The cabbie will be sent to court,”said the inspector. He said the drivers would be fined Rs2,000 to Rs10,000 or sent to prison for three months, according to the Act’s provisions.

Ola and Uber drivers moved the Bombay high court against these new rules. Despite repeated attempts, Ola and Uber spokespersons could not be reached for comment.