Ola keeps shuttle service on despite undertaking to the contrary

App-based cab aggregator Ola has continued the ‘shuttle’ service days after informing the Transport Department that the feature has been shut down. Inspectors from the RTO last month seized more than 10 vehicles attached to Ola for running the shuttle service with 10+2 vehicles, a permit exclusively given to the BMTC.

Shuttle services are booked hours earlier, allowing Ola to pick up people from designated locations and drop them off at different destinations. A source in the Transport Department said an Ola representative made a submission on Wednesday stating that the cab aggregator had shut down the shuttle service. A copy of the document signed by Ola’s legal and law enforcement head, A M Iktear Uddin, says: “We wish to humbly submit that as on date, we are not facilitating the operation of 12+1 seater maxi cabs through our platform in Bangalore city.”

Ola has, however, continued the shuttle service in select locations, allowing users to get a monthly pass to ride between workplace and home. On Thursday, two bookings were made from different routes to confirm that the service was available.

However, there was confusion over the vehicle used for the service. While the icon in the app indicated that the service will be offered through a maxi cab, a customer care executive said he “can’t comment on the vehicle”. Another said it would be a “four-seater”.

However, according to the Ola staff, ‘Shuttle’ is different from ‘Share’ since it has “designated pick-up and drop-off locations similar to the BMTC’s bus stops”. BMTC Managing Director Ekroop Caur had previously said the share service would hurt the corporation’s earnings.

“At present, cab aggregators are offering the ride-sharing service because it falls in a grey area. We are still waiting for legal opinion in this regard. However, the shuttle service with 10+2 seater vehicles clearly violates the rules under the aggregator licence,” Additional Commissioner for Transport H G Kumar said.