In the ongoing tussle between the Transport Department and taxi aggregator Uber, transport minister Ramalinga Reddy has refused to be drawn into the controversy after Uber sought his intervention in solving the impasse over the Karnataka On-Demand Transportation Technology Aggregator rules 2016.
However, the minister distanced himself from such a move stating that the matter was pending before the high court.
Uber, in a letter to Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy, has asked for his ‘intervention’ by directing authorities to look into the rules again taking into account the company’s objections.
The letter, addressed June 4, 2016, termed the rules ‘regressive’ and ‘not in line with our business model’. The company also says that it is committed to work with the State Government to frame new progressive rules and terms the current rules ‘practically impossible to comply with’.
However, Mr. Reddy told The Hindu that these rules had been framed in the interest of the travelling public as they were being made to pay exorbitant surge prices. “They have been charging more than the fixed rate. The rules call for safety measures like panic buttons, GPS tracking systems and have been made keeping the customer in mind.”
“Now there is no question of my intervention. They have gone to court against the rules, let the court decide,” he said.
