Delhi government orders Uber and Ola Cabs to halt its operations in city

New Delhi: New Delhi authorities have ordered US-based Uber and its rival Ola Cabs off the city's roads, warning that they must halt operations for their licence applications to be considered. Uber and other unregistered web-based taxi services were banned in city in December after one of the Uber's driver was charged with raping a passenger.

Uber and Ola, which connect passengers to drivers through smart phone apps, subsequently applied for formal licences to operate as radio taxi companies with offices and call centres. They have resumed operations even though their applications are still pending.

"We banned them, but they were still continuing in contravention of our order," Deputy commissioner of transport S. Roy Biswas told AFP on Wednesday.

Biswas said authorities had asked both companies to "file an affidavit swearing their compliance with the order" before their licence applications would be processed. Authorities in January had rejected Uber's application for a new licence, citing "discrepancies" and asking the company to provide further details. Uber set up its India operation in September 2013, and now operates in nearly a dozen cities including Delhi.