Maharashtra to decide fate of Ola, Uber and Rapido operations after Sept 4 meeting

Pune: The state transport department will take a final call on whether Ola, Uber and Rapido can continue operating cabs in Maharashtra, after meeting representatives of the aggregators and consulting chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sept 4The deadline for obtaining licences under the state’s new cab aggregator policy ended on Sept 1. Transport minister Pratap Sarnaik said none of the three aggregators had secured a licence to operate in the state.“During the meeting, we will ask them why they could not secure a licence. We will also consult the CM on the issue. The cab aggregator policy was introduced last month, and the aggregators should have secured their licences by now. They were given ample time,” Sarnaik said.In Pune, Uber and Rapido had applied for licences to operate e-bike taxis, while only Rapido had sought a licence for cab operations. However, none had been granted a licence so far, Pune RTO officer Archana Gaikwad said.A senior RTO official said the local office was awaiting directions from the state transport department before taking any action against the aggregators.“If we receive directions to initiate action, it will be done. This could mean that aggregator cabs will not be allowed to operate. At present, we have not received any such order from the higher authorities,” the RTO official said.Gaikwad had earlier said the applications submitted by the aggregators were under scrutiny and that they would have to fulfil all requirements under the policy for both cab and e-bike taxi operations.“In both cases, the aggregators need to fulfil all the requirements, failing which the applications are bound to be rejected. The process could take time,” she had said.Meanwhile, commuters continue to complain about cab drivers allegedly demanding fares higher than those displayed on aggregator apps, with many saying the issue has persisted for nearly two years.“Commuters have been facing this problem for close to two years, and there is still no relief. Why is it so difficult for the state govt to regulate cabs in the city? In other cities, these cabs are operating without such problems,” said Siddharth Kumar, a daily commuter.You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Pune | Silver Rate in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune | Petrol Price in Pune | Diesel Price in Pune | CNG Price in Pune | LPG Price in PuneStay updated with the latest Pune news. Download the TOI App.