Karnataka’s transport department has asked ride-hailing aggregators Uber, Ola and Rapido to appear today (11th October) for a hearing before its authorities in Bengaluru.
The state transport department has initiated a trial alleging the said ride-hailing companies are overcharging customers for auto services in Bengaluru. It has also given time slots to these aggregators for submitting compliance reports, reported The Economic Times.
Prior to conducting the hearing, the state transport department went into consultation with other stakeholders.
Ola, Uber Overcharging Against The Govt Prescribed Rates
The development comes three days after the Karnataka government issued a notice to ride-hailing companies commanding them to discontinue their auto services in Bengaluru city. The orders were passed based on consumer complaints against ride-hailing apps for charging them at least INR 100 as an auto fare for a distance less than 2 Kms against the government-prescribed auto fare.
Karnataka government’s notice states, “auto services should be stopped, and customers should not be charged more than the government-prescribed fare.”
At present, the state government has fixed an auto fare up to INR 30 for the first two kilometers and beyond that, INR 15 per km.
Yesterday, Karnataka police was also reported to be working along with state transport officials in upholding the ban on auto services of Ola, Uber and Rapido.
The state government banned the auto-hailing services of Ola, Uber and Rapido on the basis of their aggregator licences, which only permit them to offer taxi services in the province.
Besides, the state’s home minister Araga Jnanendra will hold a meeting with top police and transport officials tomorrow (12th October) to confer on ways to regulate ride-hailing apps offering auto services.
“Complaints had been pouring in from the public that their fare structure is way above the government-mandated one,” Jnanendra said.
Earlier on, Transport minister B Sriramulu had also said that the government authorities would begin seizing autos that will be found linked and operated with ride-hailing apps despite the Karnataka government banning the auto services rendered by ride-hailing apps.
However, the state government may not take any action until the state Transport Department’s hearing is completed.