Within three days, Ola, Uber, Rapido auto-rickshaws services in Karnataka will be discontinued. This is following to the order passed by the Karnataka transport department on Thursday calling autos services provided by these ride-hailing platform companies “illegal”.

The department has called the auto services run by the cab aggregators ‘illegal’ under On-Demand Transportation Technology Act 2016. The vehicle aggregators have been directed to submit a report.

According to the transport department several commuters registered complaints with the transport department over Ola and Uber charging a minimum of Rs 100 even if the distance is below two kilometres. The minimum auto fare in Bengaluru is fixed at Rs 30 for the first 2 km and Rs 15 for every kilometre thereafter.
Meanwhile, Transport commissioner THM Kumar has said they have granted licences to these firms under the Karnataka On-Demand Transportation Technology Aggregators Rules, 2016, to run only taxis. The rules do not apply to autos.

“Taxis means a motor cab having a seating capacity not exceeding six passengers, excluding the driver,” he added, according to a ToI report.

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) had also issued warning on September 9 and asked the Indian cab aggregators (CAs) like Ola, Uber, and Meru to formulate clear and transparent policies with respect to the sharing of revenue on account of surge pricing between the drivers and the CAs.

The department’s notice, ride-hailing companies have to stop their auto services at the earliest and also not to charge passengers in taxis more than the fare prescribed by the government. The department also warned of legal action if they fail to comply with the order.

“The aggregators are providing autorickshaw services in violation of the above regulations. Also, it has come to the notice of the department that customers are being charged higher rates than the rates fixed by the government,” the letter added.
L Hemanth Kumar, additional commissioner for transport and secretary, State Transport Authority, echoed the same saying, “They are not supposed to run auto rickshaws with a cab-aggregator licence.” Aggregator rules are only for cabs. We’ve asked them to stop auto rickshaws services through the app and submit a report,” he added.