The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2019 has given power to the Centre to regulate the app-based taxi firms to make the customer’s cab ride experience smooth and hassle-free. Accordingly, the Central Government guidelines are in place from 2020.
However, the State Government has to frame rules to regulate cab aggregators like Ola, Uber and others in their respective States. So, an eye can be kept on surge or arbitrary pricing; make them offer better services for passengers, such as well-trained drivers.
Besides, the crucial aspect of women's and passengers’ safety can be kept under watch.
However, Odisha is yet to frame a policy or norms to regulate the operating of app-based taxi firms like OLA and UBER though as many 3,000 to 4,000 cars are operating in the twin cities of Cuttack and Bhubaneswar.
Once the State Transport Department issues licences for the app-based taxi firms, the State Transport Authority(STA) can easily regulate their activities.
Besides, when the app- based taxi firms are linked with the STA and Commissionerate police portals, the owner’s details, vehicle documents, movement, driver’s driving licence information, insurance and other information can be easily monitored, said road safety expert Subrat Kumar Nanda.
In case of any accident, crime or any dispute between the driver and the passenger, the enforcement agencies can have all information at their fingertips. In case the driver of the vehicle commits any crime all details about him can be availed. So the police can take swift action, Nanda said.
Besides, violation of licensing conditions of the State Government could lead to penalties, he added.