The Transport Department on Friday seized 18 bike taxis in the city for operating without proper licences. The seized vehicles were towed to RTO (West) located on New Avadi Road in Anna Nagar.
Bike taxis seized by the Transport Department
Chennai:
“We have detained 18 two-wheelers for commercialising private vehicles. Fourteen of them, attached to the cab aggregator Ola and the rest used by Rapido. Public should be aware that bike taxis are being operated illegally in the city. The government has not given approval for its operation,” said a senior official from the State Transport Authority (STA).
According to officials, the authorities detained the first two-wheeler at Ekkaduthangal in the afternoon when the rider was enroute to pick up a passenger. “The vehicles were seized with the help of the public. The action was taken based on a complaint from a few Ola cab drivers,” said an authority attached to RTO (west).
“As there is no government’s approval to operate bike taxis in the State, a show cause notice will be issued to the parties concerned,” State Transport Commissioner, C Samayamoorthy, said.
Rapido bike taxi was operating in the city since January 23. A base fare of Rs 15 and extra Rs 3 for every kilometer was fixed.
After Ola bike taxi was launched on Thursday, the cab aggregator had to withdraw the service off the app and it showed no bikes available. It was launched at Rs 5 for the first four km and Rs 7 for every additional kilometer. Ola bike is available in other cities, including Ahmedabad, Gurugram, Jaipur and Ludhiana.
The transport department had submitted a proposal to the government for the approval to run bike taxis in the State. The seizures were made as the government approval for the project is still pending.
“We have detained 18 two-wheelers for commercialising private vehicles. Fourteen of them, attached to the cab aggregator Ola and the rest used by Rapido. Public should be aware that bike taxis are being operated illegally in the city. The government has not given approval for its operation,” said a senior official from the State Transport Authority (STA).
According to officials, the authorities detained the first two-wheeler at Ekkaduthangal in the afternoon when the rider was enroute to pick up a passenger. “The vehicles were seized with the help of the public. The action was taken based on a complaint from a few Ola cab drivers,” said an authority attached to RTO (west).
“As there is no government’s approval to operate bike taxis in the State, a show cause notice will be issued to the parties concerned,” State Transport Commissioner, C Samayamoorthy, said.
Rapido bike taxi was operating in the city since January 23. A base fare of Rs 15 and extra Rs 3 for every kilometer was fixed.
After Ola bike taxi was launched on Thursday, the cab aggregator had to withdraw the service off the app and it showed no bikes available. It was launched at Rs 5 for the first four km and Rs 7 for every additional kilometer. Ola bike is available in other cities, including Ahmedabad, Gurugram, Jaipur and Ludhiana.