The Pune Regional Transport Authority (RTA) has taken decisive action against ride-hailing companies, Ola and Uber, following a directive from the district collector. Both companies have been prohibited from working in Pune City, Pimpri-Chinchwad, and Baramati due to non-compliance with the Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines Act, 2020.
To enforce the ban, the RTA has deployed four flying squads tasked with cracking down on any instances of Ola and Uber operating within the restricted areas.
Headed by the District Collector, the RTA committee comprises key officials including the Deputy Commissioner Of Police (Traffic) and the Regional Transport Office (RTO). The decision was prompted by a review of the aggregator companies’ applicants, which revealed significant lapses in adherence to regulatory requirements.
Regional Transport Officer, Sanjeev Bhor, emphasized on the importance of maintaining public convenience, particularly for school children and citizens reliant on aggregator services.
Despite the RTA’s denial of licenses to Ola and Uber, reports indicate continued operations in some parts of the restricted area. Responding to queries, Uber’s public relations firm assured a forthcoming response on the same.
Applications for aggregator licenses submitted by Ola and Uber had been pending since December 2023, with the RTA citing deficiencies in compliance with the Act. Following a circular issued by the RTO on December 12, permission was formally denied, leading to the ban on further operations of Ola and Uber.
With a 30-day time for appeal to the authorities, the fate of Ola and Uber remains uncertain.
