Govt. to roll out strict guidelines for Uber & Ola

The Government of Delhi is set to roll out strict guidelines for cab aggregators like Uber and Ola. These include a cap on surge pricing and several safety measures.

As per the draft rules, app-based aggregators will have to get a license from the transport department to operate in Delhi. The companies will be required to have a 24X7 call centre and will have to share live GPS data of all cabs with the transport department. Drivers cannot refuse a passenger or discriminate on the basis of gender, race, religion, caste or disability.

In order to regulate surge pricing, minimum and maximum fares will be fixed by the transport department. Those failing to abide by the rules could attract a fine of Rs. 25,000 for every violation. 

With regards to safety, cab aggregators will have to include new features in their mobile application that would enable passengers to share their location and cab details with at least 2 people. It is recommended that the app should have a firewall to protect personal data of passengers. The app must also have a "panic button" to alert not only the company's call centre but the local police as well. In case of sexual harassment of a passenger, the onus will be on the aggregator to file a police complaint. Failing to do so will attract a fine of Rs. 1 lakh for each case.

The app must display the picture of the driver and description of the vehicle. The cabs should also have a GPS screen (minimum size of 6 inches) that will display the location of the vehicle in real time. 

A person convicted for any cognizable offence or driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol within the past 7 years will be not be permitted to drive. The government has also urged companies to hire more women drivers.

The transport department has said that cabs will have to ply as contract carriages, which means multiple pick up and drop points will be not allowed. While the policy does not prohibit shared rides, the decision on pool rides will reportedly be taken by a committee.

Source: TOI