Pune collector orders Rapido to stop two-wheeler taxi service run without permission

The Pune district collector has directed Rapido to stop its two-wheeler taxi service operating in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad. Rickshaw unions said the service was being run without authorised permission from the government, and after this emerged at a meeting, the administration ordered the company to halt it.

Attention now turns to how the order is actually implemented, and what action the administration takes if the service continues without permission.

The matter began with a memorandum from rickshaw unions. The Maharashtra Rickshaw Panchayat, the Auto Taxi Transport Federation of India and the Auto Taxi Chalak-Malak Sanghatana Sanyukt Kruti Samiti had submitted a representation against Rapido's two-wheeler taxi service to the district collector and the Regional Transport Office. Following this demand, a meeting was held at the collector's office, attended by administrative officials, representatives of the rickshaw unions, and representatives of Ola, Uber and Rapido.

The unions claim it emerged at this meeting that Rapido had not obtained authorised government permission to run a two-wheeler taxi service. It was then stated that the collector directed the service to be shut.

Dr Baba Kamble, founder president of the Maharashtra Rickshaw Panchayat, has demanded that the decision be implemented immediately. He said that if the service is continued in violation of the rules, cases should be registered against those concerned.