Uber and Ola drivers will have to pay hefty fines for cancelling rides in Maharashtra

Commuters’ problems with the many declines of cab aggregators, such as delays in pick-ups and unjustified cancellations, will soon be dealt with. A state government-appointed committee set up in April 2023, following a slew of complaints by consumers on different social media platforms and the government over some time, will table the suggestions intended to solve these niggling matters.

Currently, aggregator cabs levy a fine every juncture a passenger cancels a ride.

Chief among the recommendations is that a passenger receive a rebate in the range of ₹50-75 each time a driver cancels a ride. At present, aggregator cabs levy a fine every time a passenger cancels a ride. On the other hand, a driver will get 20 minutes as the maximum time to reach the pick-up point, beyond which fines will be imposed for delay. Also, first, the Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) will have the right to delist an aggregator cab if a vehicle is found to be in an unfit condition to be on the road.

The six-member committee, led by retired bureaucrat Sudhirkumar Shrivastava, a former transport secretary, and other senior officers from the transport department and RTO, has formed the draft recommendations, which will be submitted to the state government soon. “These recommendations will come into effect only when the government accepts them. Every passenger facing cancellation will be given the rebate,” said a government official on condition of anonymity. In the course of setting up the new regulations, the committee also asked for opinions from decision-makers from respective aggregators.

The draft rules bring expectancy to passengers, as many suffer a wait of between 10-15 minutes during peak time, followed by cancellations. “Whenever this decision comes into effect, we will welcome it. The government should confirm the mode of payment to the passenger when he or she transacts with the cab aggregator. Such a rebate should ideally be routed through the system,” said advocate Shirish Deshpande, chairperson of Mumbai Grahak Panchayat, a body that resolves consumer problems.

Apart from this, sources said authorities at RTO will also be authorised to cancel the vehicle access over the health and general condition of the vehicle. Sources said, at present, the aggregator decides on the course of action when a passenger complains on the mobile app about the overall ride experience, behaviour of drivers and vehicle quality, vis-à-vis ‘star ratings’.

The action taken by the respective company is not in the public domain, and hence the RTO may be given the scope for taking necessary action,” said another official. The most common complaints are poor quality of the vehicle, soiled seats and squeaky doors. Sources said the government is likely to take these recommendations positively.

“We will shortly submit the report for the state government’s approval,” said Shrivastava. These draft rules are by the Motor Vehicle Aggregators Guidelines 2020 issued by the Union Ministry for Road Transport and Highways, which has directed all states to enforce the guidelines. The committee also looked into issues such as fare regulation, driver training and background checks for drivers.

Please, also have a look into : Uber starts self-driven cab services to pick up riders in San Francisco