DCW issues notice to five app-based taxi services

Tribune news Service 

New Delhi, May 13

The Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) today issued notice to five app-based taxi/cab aggregators- Ola, Uber, Meru, Taxi for Sure and Ridz-seeking to have details, including the number of taxis that operate under their banner in the national Capital, and the drivers whose details have not been duly verified. 

The Commission sought to know the protocol followed by them to connect to the police in case of a distress call, response time and a brief summary of all cases of 2015 that have required police intervention.

The DCW, taking suo motu cognisance of the threat to women’s safety posed by unregulated taxi aggregators, also sought to know the extent of compliance with the prevalent rules and regulations imposed by the Delhi Government. 

The move came in the light of two recent cases--molestation of a Belgian national by an Ola cab driver and rape of a woman by an Uber cab driver. The Commission has also sought details of the drivers who are with a Public Service Vehicle Badge issued by the transport department. 

“Of the drivers operating under the banner of your company, how many drivers have licences from outside the state? Please provide state-wise details of the same. What is the protocol followed by you to connect to the police in case a distress call is received? Please provide us copies of all standard operating procedures followed by you for the same, data on response time and a brief summary of all cases in 2015 that have required police intervention,” said DCW Chairperson Swati Maliwal in the notice. 

Stating that certain conditions need to be satisfied by all taxi aggregators for taxis/cars operating under their banner, the DCW chief said that the taxi shall be fitted with GPS and GPRS-based tracking device, printer and a display panel showing the path traversed and total distance covered. The GPS and GPRS-based tracking device shall be in constant communication with the central control room of the transport department, she added.

“Details containing the photograph of the driver, licence number, PSV badge number, and registration mark of the vehicle etc. shall be displayed prominently inside the taxi so that they are directly visible to the passenger,” said the DCW chief.