Transport dept seeks your inputs on capping Ola and Uber surge pricing

MUMBAI: Capping the minimum and maximum fare for cab services provided by app-based aggregators such as Ola and Uber, providing an option for black-and-yellow taxis

MUMBAI: Capping the minimum and maximum fare for cab services provided by app-based aggregators such as Ola and Uber, providing an option for black-and-yellow taxis to join app-based cab services, assigning different colours to different cab operators and doing away with the mandatory provision of panic button for women passengers, are some of the highlights of the new rules governing taxis in the city that the state transport authorities published on its website recently.

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Correcting its past gaffe, the state transport department published a revised draft for app-based taxi aggregators — Maharashtra City Taxi Scheme 2016 — and sought suggestions from citizens on it by November 5. Several new rules have been introduced in the revised draft, which were absent from the City Taxi Scheme 2015, resulting in it getting scrapped.

As per the new draft, a licencing authority will be formulated to determine the fare. The decision has been taken to regulate surge pricing, in which the fare of app-based taxis skyrockets if the demand for such cabs increases. In 2015 draft, the government had allowed call centre-based fleet taxis, which ply under Fleet Taxi Scheme 2007 and Phone Fleet Taxi Scheme 2010, to migrate to app-based services. In the new draft, however, it also decided to give permit to black-and-yellow cabs to do the same, but with certain conditions.

It will be mandatory for all the cab aggregators to have 50% of their cab fleet with 1400 cc capacity engines. Also, vehicle plying on cleaner fuels like CNG, LPG, electricity and unleaded petrol could also operate under the revised scheme.

The new draft states: “App-based City Taxi Permit issued under Section 74 of Motor Vehicle Act 1988 would be necessary for every app-based taxi.” The permit will come with price tags. Surprisingly, for taxis below 1400 cc, it will cost Rs 25,000, and for vehicles above 1400 cc it will cost Rs 2.61 lakh.