Pune collector orders Rapido to stop permitless bike taxi service in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad
The Pune RTA meeting directed that Rapido's bike taxis stay off the road until government permission is granted, and set fare and data rules for Ola, Uber and Rapido.
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The administration has cracked down on Rapido's bike taxi service, which has been running without a permit in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad. The service must remain shut immediately until formal permission is obtained from the government. District Collector Jitendra Dudi gave the clear direction at a meeting of the Pune Regional Transport Authority (RTA).
The decision was taken in view of the arbitrary conduct of aggregator companies such as Ola, Uber and Rapido, and mounting complaints against them. The meeting was held at the Collector's office. Regional Transport Officer Archana Gaikwad, Deputy Regional Transport Officer Swapnil Bhosale and Pimpri-Chinchwad Deputy Regional Transport Officer Rahul Jadhav were present. Traffic police officers and representatives of various autorickshaw and cab unions also attended.
Autorickshaw and taxi unions had already conveyed their anger to the administration. Several organisations, including Dr Baba Kamble, founder president of the Maharashtra Rickshaw Panchayat, said Rapido was running bike taxis without any legal or government permission. The organisations alleged that this illegal service was affecting the livelihood of thousands of autorickshaw and taxi drivers. They also demanded that the administration not stop at verbal instructions and that cases be registered against those who violate the order.
The meeting also introduced some strict rules to curb arbitrary fare collection by other aggregator companies, not just bike taxis.
On fares, it was decided that Ola, Uber, Rapido and all autorickshaw and cab drivers will charge passengers only according to the government-approved meter rates.
Companies have also been required to provide information. Ola, Uber and Rapido must submit complete details of all trips and fare rates for the current month to the RTA by November 10. This will be used to check whether the rules are being followed properly.
To ensure the government meter rates are properly implemented, necessary instructions will be issued to all the relevant police stations in the city.
The transport sector in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad is now watching how strictly the Collector's directions are enforced on the ground and how the companies respond.
