Panic buttons, location tracking: Chandigarh notifies rules for cab aggregators with eye on safety

The UT Administration has officially notified the Chandigarh Administration Motor Vehicle Aggregator Rules, 2025, ushering in a new era of regulation for cab services, bike taxis and shared mobility platforms in the city.

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The Transport Department issued the notification today, following months of deliberations. The newly notified rules aim to improve safety, accountability and service standards across all aggregator platforms operating in the city. The policy will apply to all types of transport vehicles, including CNG vehicles, rickshaws, e-rickshaws, e-bikes and bike taxis.

For quite some time, there had been a growing demand for the implementation of a formal aggregator policy in Chandigarh. The Transport Department had released the Draft Motor Vehicle Aggregator Rules, 2024, last year, and invited suggestions from stakeholders.

Key provisions of the new rules include a mandate clearing all pending challans before vehicles are allowed to integrate with aggregator platforms. Additionally, verification of the cab driver and compliance with vehicle safety norms will be mandatory.

If any vehicle fails to meet the safety requirements for either passengers or drivers, or lacks necessary safety arrangements, the aggregator company’s license is liable to be cancelled.

For enhanced safety, especially of female passengers, the use of child lock systems will be prohibited. Only manual override and locking systems will be permitted.

Carpooling has also been formally regulated under the new rules. Aggregators must ensure special safety measures for women passengers, including the mandatory installation of panic buttons and vehicle location tracker devices.

The aggregator’s mobile app must also display clear and accurate fare details. Additionally, fares must be shown in both English and Hindi to ensure accessibility for a wider group of users.

Transport Department officials confirmed that the new rules have come into effect immediately following the notification.