 "Final order regarding Uber ban before Jan 5")
The Delhi Transport Authority will come out with a final order concerning the ban on Uber by January 5. The authority, which is acting as a quasi-judicial body, will pass orders after satisfying itself with the company’s response. The order, if in favour of Uber, could mark its return in the Capital.
The US-based taxi hailing service has been representing its case before the transport authorities for the last two days. “We have time till January 5,” said an official of the department requesting anonymity. On Monday, Uber presented its case in front of the authorities in its first hearing. On Tuesday, it filed additional documents relating to the case.
The company was banned from operating in Delhi on December 8 after a taxi driver on its network allegedly raped a 27-year-old finance executive. Uber had approached the Delhi Court requesting quashing of the ban orders. The Court had directed the Transport Authority to hear the petition and pass an order.
On being asked if the authority will revoke the ban, the officials said that it will study the documents filed and take a decision accordingly.
Through the last few weeks, Uber has introduced new India-specific safety features to strengthen existing mechanisms, it added. On Saturday, it reached out to users, seeking their support for its return as the authorities decide on its fate. So far, around 8,000 people have signed a petition (#BringUberBack) to bring Uber back.
On Monday, Uber said in a statement, “We appreciate the government’s due process to achieve a common goal which puts the interests of consumers — access to safe, reliable and efficient transportation alternatives that technologies such as Uber provide — first. We look forward to a positive outcome that benefits the people of Delhi.”
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Uber said it planned to introduce five new steps for verification of drivers. It said it would re-check and ensure the details of all Uber Delhi driver-partners were authentic, through police verification. It would also have a local team of specially-trained safety experts to detect fraud, verify and authenticate driver and vehicle documents and test the validity of our screening.
“We’re engaging local and global experts to evaluate the most effective background-screening solution across India; pilot programmes are already running in select cities, including Delhi,” the company said in a blog earlier.
The company has already started re-verification of its driver-partners in Delhi.
Uber will also have a local and dedicated customer support centre in India, which would “specialise on resolving critical issues” for its riders and drivers in the country, the company said.
It will come out with an in-app feature called 'ShareMyETA', which will allow users of its service to send the location (live GPS tracking), the driver's photograph and name and vehicle licence number to their "loved ones".
"ShareMyETA is the first of a whole set of new integrated Uber safety features coming to India," it added.