Uber’s app still shines bright but the services have come to a halt. Although the service has been banned in the State after instructions from the Centre, the move has evoked mixed reactions from the public, especially from those who used the services regularly.
Some feel that the ban was uncalled for, as they found the taxi service quite convenient in terms of quick response and card payment but the Delhi incident has also sent shivers all round. The commonly held view is that the ban will serve as a lesson for other companies as well.
“Uber was definitely wrong in not checking the driver’s background. But its services here were very good. The cabs would arrive on time, and at times the cost of travel would be lesser than autos,” said Ajab, a costume designer. She further mentioned that the cab drivers were always courteous as well, she added expressing ‘disappointment’ with the ban. Uber, users said, was also very useful as one could simply book a cab with a click of a button, and the taxi would arrive within five minutes after booking. “In fact, they were very quick to arrive at your location in the Hi-tech city area. What made it a very good service was the fact that I did not have to pay cash, since I could use a debit or credit card registered with Uber,” said a private company employee Abdul Mannan.
Though he liked Uber’s service, Mannan also felt that banning would teach other companies to not break rules. “After all a girl was sexually assaulted, and it is not acceptable. The company has to pay,” he observed. Disagreeing with him, however, was Lisa Thomas Samuel, another private employee.
“Uber and Ola are the two premium cab services. Since, the point is that apart from these two companies, the others are all ‘third rate’,” she explained. “The other services are not properly organised and you don’t know what you get into but there is no doubt that all the taxi services should check the antecedents of the drivers,” she added.
*The number of cases registered since Wednesday in the city went up to 116, as the Road Transport Authority (RTA) officials seized 61 cars in total. *Drivers booked for various offences such as not updating their documents, invalid licenses and wrong display of number plates: B. Venkateswarulu, Joint Commissioner, RTA.
*RTA chalking out a plan to work in coordination with the police department for better management.
*Checks conducted by two teams in the areas of Hi-tech city
*Women assistant motor vehicle teams deployed on the IT corridor as well: T. Raghunath, Joint Commissioner, RTA
