Mumbai’s kaali-peeli taxis can sign up on Ola, Uber for as long as they want

The transport department’s move has left Mumbai’s taxi union leaders fuming as they were kept out of the loop

The city’s ionic black-and-yellow cab drivers will soon be free to switch to any app-based services such as Ola and Uber, without restrictions on how long they must stay with a particular aggregator. This comes as the transport department has proposed a new amendment to the Maharashtra City Taxi Rules, 2017, meant to regulate app-based taxis and include commuters’ suggestions and objections.

The transport department has proposed a new amendment to the Maharashtra City Taxi Rules, 2017, meant to regulate app-based taxis and include commuters’ suggestions and objections. (Photo for representation)

According to the rules, it is mandatory for the drivers of kaali peelis to use a particular aggregator for at least a month, before switching to another.

The proposed amendment does not include this. The department has also deleted sub-rule 24 of the Maharashtra City Taxi Rules, which included the same provision for the transfer of permit and vehicle from one aggregator to another.

Although the department published its draft rules on October 26, it invited suggestions and objections to the amendment on December 16.

The move left taxi union leaders fuming, as they were kept out of the loop.

AL Quadros, leader of Mumbai Taximens’ Union, said despite the amendment’s potential to affect the drivers of kaali peelis positively, it was kept a secret by the transport department.

He added said the 15-day window, within which suggestions must be given, is insufficient. Prem Singh, leader of Mumbai Taxi Association, said they should have been given at least a month.

Transport department officials said the draft notification has not yet been finalised. “The notification was supposed to finalised within a month, but the government has given us 15 days extra to register suggestions,” said a senior transport department official. He said the department would incorporate the suggestions received.