Taxi aggregator Uber has suspended its bike-taxi pilot in India within 10 days of its launch after the Karnataka government said the app-based taxi-hailing company had not obtained the permission of local authorities to run the service in Bengaluru.
With Uber failing to heed to the ban on bike-taxis, more than 80-odd two-wheelers operated by private individuals on its platform, were seized by the Bengaluru traffic police since its launch.
The transport department came cracking down on bike-taxis as there was no provision for two-wheeler taxis in the Motor Vehicles Act. The Karnataka government, however, said that once cab aggregators get the necessary approvals, it will consider offering them licences on a case-by-case basis.
Following the success of its first bike-taxi service in Bangkok, which was launched a week ahead of introducing it in Bengaluru, Uber was hopeful of the service becoming a hit in the Karnataka capital.
Ola, which began the pilot for its bike-taxi service in Bengaluru on the same day as Uber, also suspended its service within a day following a warning from the government.
Following Karnataka's move to curb bike taxis without proper permits, Maharashtra too is exerting more control on app-based taxi aggregators.
Source : BS Motoring
