Haryana orders crackdown on all app-based taxi services

GURGAON: The transport commissioner of Haryana has directed the regional transport authority (RTA) of Gurgaon to immediately shut down all web- and app- based taxi services.
The RTA secretary has also been directed to advise the public against hiring any transport service provided by such companies until they obtain necessary permissions from the state government.
TOI has learned that an urgent meeting has been called where district administration will consult cops, MCG officials and civil society to make cab services safer for women. On the other hand, there will be a crackdown against those who provide taxi service without requisite permits.
"The meeting on Friday will be merely a precursor. The final decision about how we crack down on illegal cab services will be taken in a couple of days after consulting all the stakeholders," said deputy commissioner T L Satyaprakash.
Haryana government formulated a Radio Cab Scheme in 2007 to grant contract carriage permits to the operators. As per the scheme, cab owners are supposed to install GPS (global positioning system) in all vehicles.
The rules allow them to ply only in a radius of 50 kms of the district headquarters. The scheme also puts a cap on the maximum fare - Rs 12.50 per km for economy taxis. The maximum prescribed fare for luxury and super luxury cabs is Rs 20 and Rs 30 per km respectively.
In last seven years, only seven cab permits have been granted in Gurgaon, out of which three were not renewed. At present, only four companies have valid permits: Sonam Rent A Car, Surya Infracon, Quick Cabs and Apra Cab.
The RTA has been told to ensure that the companies which have valid permits strictly adhere to the terms and conditions of the scheme.
They have also been directed to ensure police verification and background check of all drivers. Earlier, the state government received an alert from ministry of home affairs to stop all web and app based transport services.
The RTA order has come in the wake of the rape of a woman in a radio cab in the capital.