Pune police commissioner Amitesh Kumar confirmed that the police had sent a communication to tech firms
Pune: City police, in their efforts to remove bike taxi option from Rapido’s app, reached out to Google and Apple.The move follows last week’s letter from Pune Collector and Regional Transport Authority chairperson Jitendra Dudi, asking police to shut down the bike taxi service.Pune police commissioner Amitesh Kumar confirmed that the police have written to Google and Apple. “We have already sent communications to Google Play Store and Apple’s App Store to put down Rapido’s application,” he told TOI.Pune RTO officials said the service could soon become unavailable unless Rapido secures the necessary approvals. The company’s application seeking approval to operate bike taxis has been pending with the transport department.
“They were warned of legal action if they failed to comply with the norms. An FIR was lodged against them last week, and now the RTA chairperson and police have also stepped in,” an RTO official said, requesting anonymity.“If they comply with all requirements under the bike taxi policy, they may get approval. However, their unauthorised operations could complicate matters,” the official said.The bike taxi option remains active on the Rapido app and rides continue across the city despite an FIR being registered against it more than a week ago.
Some commuters have questioned the authorities’ push to shut down the service, arguing that public transport remains inadequate and that passengers continue to face overcharging and misbehaviour by some autorickshaw and cab drivers.“I don’t understand why the authorities are so keen to close the service. They cannot ensure adequate public transport and do little when cabbies and autorickshaw drivers overcharge or misbehave.
I used the [Rapido bike taxi] service a couple of days ago and found it perfectly fine,” said a Vimannagar resident on the condition of anonymity.Inder Rastogi, a young working professional and friend of the Vimannagar resident, said authorities should focus on regulating the service and improving safety rather than shutting it down. “One of the friends lives in Hinjewadi Phase III and has been watching empty Metro trains run for over a month.
The govt has been waiting for the PM to inaugurate the service, with no clarity on when it would begin. Authorities could make bike taxis safer instead of trying to shut them down.
The service operates successfully in several cities. They are buckling under pressure from autorickshaw unions,” he said.
Autorickshaw unions, meanwhile, criticised the authorities for issuing letters without ensuring that operations cease. They also raised concerns about the verification of riders and passenger safety. “Only a few days ago, the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad caught a bike taxi operator who allegedly had links with a terrorist organisation in Pakistan. It is high time the service was stopped,” said Keshav Kshirsagar, president of Maharashtra Kamgar Sabha and Indian Gig Workers Front.
