Transport Dept suspends Ola’s licence in Bengaluru for six months

March 22, 2019

The action follows illegal operation of bike taxis by the company.

In a major development, the Karnataka transport department has suspended the licence of taxi aggregator Ola & ordered immediate stoppage of its services in Bengaluru. The action follows illegal operation of bike taxis by the company.

The order issued by the department on 18th March states that the licence issued to Ani Technologies Private Limited, Ola cabs Bangalore, under the provisions of The Karnataka on Demand Transport Technology Aggregators Rules, 2016, has been suspended for a period of 6 months.

Ola was also directed to surrender the licence to the authority concerned within 3 days of receiving the order copy.

Transport Commissioner V.P. Ikkeri told media that the order was issued after Ola was found flouting the rules.

“The Department had issued license to Ola only to operate mobile app based taxis (motor cabs) in the city. But they were found illegally operating bike taxis. It's a clear violation of the aggregators’ rules. Our officials had impounded the 2-wheelers attached to Ola, carried out investigation & charge sheets were also filed in the court. The response given by Ola to the notices served by the department was not satisfactory. So action has been taken as per the rules.”

The official said the enforcement wing of the transport department impounded close to 260 two-wheelers attached with Ola in the city in the last 1 month.

The department had directed the RTOs to enforce the rules if Ola continued to operate taxis in the city by defying the order.

It's said Ola had received licence from the department to operate taxis in the city from June 2016 to June 19, 2021.

Though the order was issued on Monday, the Ola taxi services were operational even on Friday.

Source Link