After the directions from the Union Home Ministry to ban all web-based cabs in the city, the UT Administration has asked the service providers who are not licensed to stop their operations.
The State Transport Authority has also launched a drive to keep a check on illegal taxi operators in Chandigarh. Under the drive, the STA challenged 15 taxi drivers and impounded five taxis who were illegally plying in the city.
According to the STA, around 150 authorized taxis are plying in the city The STA has already declared that Uber, Meru, Ola, Fab Cabs and Taxi for Sure do not conform to regulations of the radio taxi scheme and illegally plying taxis in the city.
STA Additional Secretary Rajiv Tewari told Pioneer that after the directions from the Union Ministry, the STA has asked the unauthorized taxi operators to stop their operations in the city. During a surprise check conducted on Wednesday, 15 taxis were challaned and five were impounded, he said.
In the event of being challaned, the maximum penalty that can be imposed is Rs 5,000. Also, the STA can impound the vehicle during the checking process. Tewari said web-based cabs have been banned in the city and the surprise checks would continue to keep a check on them.
At present, around 200 taxis are being operated by three authorized taxi operations namely Fab Cab, Mega Cab and RBTZ in Chandigarh. The STA has asked these operators to ensure functioning of global positioning system (GPS) in their radio taxis.
Earlier, the STA had directed the three taxi operators to furnish information like driving license, residential address and other details of drivers employed by them in next two days. Also, they have been asked to ensure that police verification of the drivers is done at the earliest.
The directions were issued after the alleged rape of 27 years old girl by a cab driver in New Delhi. last week, a taxi driver employed by US-based taxi operator Uber was arrested from Mathura for allegedly raping a woman executive in his cab in New Delhi.