CHENNAI: In a bid to prioritize safety, the Tamil Nadu government has approached the Madras High Court, urging for a prohibition on two-wheeler taxis.
The government's petition emphasizes that utilizing two-wheeler taxis for commercial purposes jeopardizes the well-being of passengers, making it an unsafe choice.
Ever since the inception of Rapido's two-wheeler taxi service in 2019, the Tamil Nadu Transport department has been actively seizing bike-taxis. In an effort to curb its presence, the department has also contacted Google, Apple India, and the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CRET-In), instructing them to remove the Rapido app from their platforms.
However, Rapido, an app-based transportation company, managed to secure a temporary halt against this directive through a court order. The Tamil Nadu Transport department was then directed by the court to establish regulations for the operation of bike-taxis in the state.
Recognizing the need for comprehensive guidelines, the Union Transport Ministry issued aggregator guidelines to regulate taxi, auto, and bike services offered by Ola, Uber, Rapido, and other similar mobile applications. It further mandated that individual state governments formulate their own guidelines accordingly.
Acting upon this directive, the Transport Commissionerate submitted a petition to the Madras High Court, stating that it had proposed aggregator guidelines to the government and was awaiting final approval.
Seeking intervention from the court, the Tamil Nadu Transport Department requested restraining orders against Rapido, preventing them from connecting private bike owners with commuters.
The court has adjourned the proceedings for a period of four weeks, allowing for further examination of the case.
