Uber campaigns against Maharashtra cab rules, readies petition

The app-hailing taxi company Uber has started a petition to gather support against the Maharashtra government's proposed rules for cab aggregators

Global app-hailing taxi giant Uber has started a petition to gather support against the Maharashtra government's proposed rules for aggregators such as it and rival Ola.

The petition, which is looking to get support from 60,000 individuals has so far gathered 11,000 odd votes. It urges individual users to support it saying the proposed rules will mean "an end to the Uber I know and love today".

Maharashtra brought out guidelines for the proposed taxi aggregator rules last week, which demanded that cabs affiliated to services such as Uber and Ola use either CNG, hybrid or electric drivetrains. It also fixed the exact fare which cabs on these services will be allowed to charge customers.

Last year when the Maharashtra transport department had put on its website draft regulations, Uber ran a similar campaign asking Mumbai citizens to oppose the proposed move. Since then Karnataka and Delhi have introduced similar rules for taxi aggregators.

Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru are the three largest markets for aggregators such as Uber and Ola. The two companies have over 500,000 vehicles and drivers on their platforms.

Uber, in its petition says that the price restrictions and use of more expensive cabs will increase the cost of rides to customers. Moreover, the limited permits being issued by the government at a cost of Rs 2.61 lakh would only add to the cost customers would have to bare.

"These proposals will mean higher prices and longer wait times for riders like me. They will also threaten the livelihood of thousands of hard working drivers," the petition which Uber plans to send to the state government reads.

Uber took both the governments of Karnataka and Delhi to the High Court over their own rules, and courts have directed that the company should not charge surge from customers in Delhi and Bengaluru. The Karnataka High Court is yet to deliver its judgement on Uber's plea that the state rules were unconstitutional.