Taxi aggregator Uber has opposed the Maharashtra government’s attempt to restrict the size of fleet of individual taxi aggregators and the move to regulate the fares aimed at protecting the interest of regular cab drivers in the state, more specifically in Mumbai.
Uber’s objections have come in the form of a legal representation which has been submitted to the Transport Commissioner, Maharashtra, in response to a Draft City Taxi Scheme that has been circulated by the State government and the Transport Department of Mumbai to regulate the growing city taxi sector.
Uber has contested the Draft Scheme’s attempt to set a cap of 4,000 vehicles per platform saying this would force it to arbitrarily discontinue partnerships with a majority of drivers, ‘resulting in loss of livelihood for thousands of driver partners.’
“We have been working with the authorities for over 10 months, and the Draft City Taxi Scheme is a huge disappointment,” said Shailesh Sawlani, General Manager, Uber Mumbai.
“We have presented our objections to the Transport Department and are hopeful that the government will take cognisance of our concerns to ensure that the interests of consumers, driver-partners and communities are held supreme,” he said. On the proposal to regulate prices, Uber said its fares are dynamic, based on algorithms of supply and demand in the market, thus making it the most affordable transportation option.
“If regulated by the Transport Authority, consumer’s right to choose a more affordable ride will be affected,” Uber said.As per the draft, drivers operating for app-based services need to have only petrol and PNG/LPG/hybrid/electric vehicles to ply on such platforms.
“It would infringe on the rights of driver partners to practise any profession, or to carry on any occupation, trade or business.” Uber contended.
