The Ranchi regional transport authority has curiously banned taxi aggregator Ola, a 24x7 safe and convenient mode of city travel, in the state capital where public transport has always lacked a backbone.
More bizarrely, the conveyance watchdog is not sure why it is proscribing the app-based service when all Ola cabs have valid commercial licences and the technology-driven transport system is way different from any normal rent-a-car business that requires trade permit.
Fortunately for many Ola loyalists, many of them women who work late shifts, the service has been readily available in Ranchi even after the official ban was declared on Friday. "Thank god for Ola! I cannot think of coming home from the station at 10pm by any other means, given the rowdy auto- wallahs and local cabbies here," Sunita Singh, a bank executive, heaved a sigh of relief to see the white cabs still on the roads.
Secretary of the regional transport authority Rajesh Kumar Barwar confirmed that the Ola ban had been imposed since Friday because the taxi aggregator had "no licence to operate in Ranchi". On what type of licence was required, Barwar claimed "Ola needs a trade permit under Section 3 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1989".
But, the company manifesto clearly mentions Ola is not a cab company; it is a technology firm. It doesn't own any car, but provides a platform where cab drivers and commuters meet for convenient travel. Moreover, every Ola cab has its individual commercial licence from the local transport authority.
"All that I can say at the moment is that we are looking at legalities (on how to regulate the service). We have asked the company to submit its operational details in other cities and states," Kumar said. Asked why the transport authority had woken up to the need for "licence/permit" after two months, he added, "The Ranchi district administration informed us on paper (about Ola operation) only recently."
Jamshedpur, currently, comes under the Ranchi regional transport authority because the one in Kolhan is yet to be reconstituted. But, East Singhbhum DTO Sanjay Kujur said they had not received any order to ban Ola.
"Things aren't very clear at the moment. We will seek details on Monday," he added.
While the taxi aggregator had been on trial run in the city since March, Ola had formally launched its book-cab-on-mobile-app in April. The response was overwhelming in the capital, where commuters were so long at the mercy of unruly and fleecing auto-rickshaws, and the unpredictable city bus service. No wonder the Ola fleet size grew from 140 cabs to 200-plus in the last two months.
Besides Ola, at least three other cab services - Carzonrent, TaxiForSure and Kesu - are available in the state capital. Regional transport officials weren't sure whether they possessed licences. "We will review their services too," one of them said.
Ola assistant manager (PR and communications) Amogh Yenagi refused to comment on record. He sought a mailed request to their official ID for a statement. The same was sent, but the reply is awaited.
Another Ola executive in Ranchi, requesting anonymity, said they had an all-India app-based cab service permit from the Union road transport and highways ministry. "Commuters are with us. In Ranchi, bookings were normal on Sunday," he added.
The ministry had, in a May statement, said that all states could regulate taxi aggregators under the Motor Vehicles Act, but banning apps was not a solution and that the Centre wanted to encourage the use of technology. In the proposed draft of the new road safety bill, the ministry also included and defined the term aggregator to bring apps under the legal framework.
Samrat Kumar, an event manager and frequent traveller, questioned the prudence of the transport authority. "How can a ban help? If the state wants to regulate the taxi aggregator, it must simply ask for compliance to certain rules. It is so bizarre to ban the only reliable transport option available," he said.
