Continuing its crackdown on radio cabs operating in the national Capital without proper licences, the Delhi Traffic Police has impounded another 120 vehicles, taking the total number to 300 in just three days, it was announced on Friday.
Delhi Transport Minister Gopal Rai meanwhile said he has given Uber, Ola and TaxiForSure a week’s time to furnish the data on drivers and vehicles.
Delhi government on Friday said it was not against any kind of business and will follow best practices to promote the commuters’ interests but won’t compromise with safety and security of women in the city.
Delhi Transport Minister Gopal Rai also accused app-based taxi operators Uber and Ola cabs of “misleading” their drivers and commuters, by not submitting the details of their drivers to the government.
Delhi government wants to set the record straight on the issue of app-based taxi services in the national <g data-gr-id="42">capital,</g> since an impression is being created as if the state government has taken some fresh decision, he said.
“It is regretted that companies like Uber and Ola are misleading poor taxi drivers and the general public of the national Capital.
“Delhi government makes it absolutely clear that it is not against any kind of business and will follow best practices to promote the interests of commuters, but will not compromise with women safety,” Rai told reporters here.
Earlier in the day, the minister said that Uber and <g data-gr-id="35">Ola</g> cabs have not submitted details pertaining to their drivers and vehicles, but they submitted details to <g data-gr-id="37">government</g> only by evening.
“I have met representatives of cab drivers’ associations over the past two days and they have told me that they have submitted all their details with the offices of these companies located at Gurgaon. Then why are these companies hesitant to share the data with the transport department?” Rai said.
The minister said in a statement issued on Friday evening that the Delhi government told the cab operators that their pending applications for fresh licences would be considered if they agreed to adhere to the existing ban on them, furnish the data on drivers and their vehicles within a week and give an undertaking that they will comply with safety regulations, particularly for women commuters.
Special Commissioner of Police, Delhi traffic police, Muktesh Chander, however, said that a large majority of the vehicles were impounded because they were operating in Delhi using an All India Tourist Permit, which allows only trips between states, and not because they did not have a radio taxi licence.
“During a special drive undertaken by the Delhi traffic police against unauthorised/unlicensed radio taxis (Ola Cabs, TaxiForSure, Uber) 158 taxis were prosecuted and 120 taxis were impounded during the past 24 hours,” he said.
He said the drive against <g data-gr-id="33">unauthorised</g> operation of such radio taxis in Delhi will continue. “All are requested and advised to avail the services of only licensed taxi providers duly authorised by the transport department,” he added.