After Repeated Warnings; Govt Pondering To Block Apps Of Uber, Ola & TaxiForSure Across Country

It seems that the nightmare is not over yet for the mobile taxi hailing apps, as the government is again ready to raise their hackles. This time the government is pondering to block apps of Uber, Ola and TaxiForSure all over the country.

As per a recent report and what we reported earlier, the Delhi government had requested Department of Electronics and Information Technology (DEITY) to block such apps, but the Department found it technically impossible to do so for one particular state, and therefore, it sought “concurrence” of the transport ministry for all-India execution.

It is to be noted that the state government last month had requested the Centre to block web-based apps of taxi operators Uber, Ola and TaxiForSure alleging that these companies were not complying with a ban order imposed by it.

A recent report by Reuters, also suggests that the New Delhi government has asked Ola and Uber to cease their operation in the city or the licences will not be issued to the companies.

Earlier in last December, a woman was allegedly raped by a driver she booked using the Uber app. And what followed next was a ban on Uber and other app related cab booking services in the National Capital, who, according to the transport department, were operating illegally without a radio-taxi license.

After this rape incident, Uber had to suspend its operations in the National Capital for almost a month. However, this suspension did not go for too long, as the Uber had applied for the radio taxi license and assured more safe and reliable transportation services. Besides, it had also adhered to new taxi norms stating, “radio cabs operators must have a fleet of 200 vehicles, a 24 hour call center and panic buttons in their vehicles.”

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India’s New Pink Taxi Fleet for Women Offers Pepper Spray, Panic Buttons

Sarita Dixit, 22, a Meru Eve driver, the new women-only taxi service launched Friday January 16, 2015 in new Delhi.

One of India’s largest taxi companies says it has a solution for women worried about their safety after the alleged rape by an Uber driver: pink cabs with pepper spray.
Meru Cab chief executive Siddhartha Pahwa announced the new service–called Meru Eve– Friday from a dais decorated with daisies and gladioli.
“The incident last month forced all of us to think how we can make roads safer for women,” he said.

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Its new line of taxis in Delhi will be driven by women . They will have pepper spray and panic buttons that immediately notify Meru if there is trouble.
There have been taxi services for women for years-such as ForShe Taxis and Sakha Cabs–but Meru Eve promises to take the concept to the next level. The service started in the capital region Friday with around 20 vehicles and may be rolled out in other cities later. 
Meru worked with the Delhi police to equip the cabs and give the women drivers self-defense training to protect themselves and their passengers.

More In Women's-Safety

• In Profile: Men Arrested in the Alleged Rape of Japanese Tourist in India
• Suspect in Japanese Tourist Rape Also Faces Fraud Charges
• Uber Rivals Are Still Operating in Delhi, Despite Ban
• Japanese Tourist Raped on Way to Buddhist Shrine, Indian Police Say
• The State of Rape in Delhi Since Dec. 16, 2012

Meru’s Mr. Pahwa said that after the alleged rape of a female passenger by an Uber driver, Meru received calls from anxious passengers asking for female taxi drivers.
“This is an important step towards women’s empowerment,” said Tajender Singh Luthra, a joint commissioner of police in Delhi.
Meru’s regular drivers have always been given specific training on the appropriate ways to interact with women passengers. It says it has never had a complaint but decided to go further to make women passengers feel more safe.
“These drivers come from small towns and are not used to big city culture, like women smoking, wearing a short dress or travelling alone at night,” Mr. Pahwa said. “We train our drivers to avoid eye contact with women, maintain two feet of distance and not to adjust the rear view mirror to watch the passenger.”
The Meru Eve drivers will wear pink vests and drive white-and-pink hatchbacks.
One of the new drivers, 22-year-old Sarita Dixit, said that she expects her income to jump with demand for women drivers as more companies start women taxi services. Meru drivers typically earn between 20,000 and 30,000 rupees ($322 to $483) a month, which is more than she earned in her last job working as a chauffeur.
The new services will not only help empower women that can afford taxis but also woman looking for work, said Vimla Mehra, Delhi’s special police commissioner for administration.
“You don’t see many women professionals in India. Programs like this build confidence in women to earn a living. They become role models,” she said.

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