Carpooling banned in Bengaluru, penalty up to Rs 10,000. Know more
Bengaluru transport department has banned carpooling using mobile application platforms like Quick Ride and others following complaints from taxi drivers, according to a report of The Times of India.
Additional commissioner (enforcement) of the transport department, Mallikarjun C, informed TOI that individuals engaging in carpooling through these apps could face serious consequences. Offenders may have their registration certificates (RC) suspended for up to six months and could be fined anywhere from Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000.
The transport department maintains that carpooling apps are in violation of regulations by aggregating private cars that are not authorized for commercial use.
There have been numerous complaints from taxi driver unions, prompting the department to take action. RTOs (Regional Transport Offices) in areas such as HSR Layout, Jayanagar, Electronic City, K R Pura, Yelahanka, Devanahalli, and others have been instructed to initiate legal proceedings against these unauthorized operations.
K Somashekar of Karnataka Rajya Chalakara Parishat voiced his concerns, stating, “Apps such as Quick Ride, Zoom, and others are operating without any license.
Taxi drivers are required to register their vehicles, obtain permits, and pay taxes. We had urged the transport department to take action against these illegal activities during the private transport operators’ bandh.”
Advocates of carpooling argue that it is a highly effective solution for alleviating traffic congestion and reducing fuel consumption.
