: Customers in the Capital who hire app-based radio taxis might end up getting cheaper deals now. On Monday, app-based taxi service provider Ola told the Delhi High Court that it would not engage in surge pricing.
The court was hearing a plea filed by the Radio Taxi Association which had accused Ola, Uber and other taxi providers of charging customers more than the standard fares decided by the Delhi government.
ANI Technologies, which runs Ola, however, told a Bench of Justice Manmohan that it would not indulge in such a practice.
The court also asked the Delhi government to come back with its decision on constituting a committee to decide issues pertaining to the operation of app-based cabs and the City Taxi Scheme.
The court was informed that while in Delhi Ola, Uber, etc. claim they are not covered under the City Taxi Scheme, they have been submitting themselves to similar rules in Bangalore.
Lapse in service
The Radio Taxi Association had also accused app-based cab services of not having an integrated GPS as “only a smart phone is doubled as a GPS in these cabs”.
According to the prescribed rates, fares for all types of taxi services are Rs. 12.50 per km for Economy Radio Taxis, while Rs .14 per km and Rs. 16 per km would be charged by non-AC and AC black and yellow top taxis, respectively.
Notified fares
The notified fare of Radio Taxi cabs (distinguished by an LCD board on rooftop displaying “Radio Taxi”) is Rs. 23 per km. Additional night charges (25 per cent of the fare) are applicable between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m.
The amended Radio Taxi Scheme, 2006, makes CNG fuel, prefixed calibrated meters, GPS, etc. mandatory.
