Karnataka deputy CM Parameshwara lands in trouble for endorsing carpooling app
Despite the transport department harping that there is no legal provision to allow the use of private cars for commercial gain, deputy chief minister of Karnataka G Parameshwara has endorsed a carpooling app, much to the dismay of cab aggregators’ association
FollowBengaluru: Karnataka deputy chief minister Dr G Parameshwara has landed in trouble after he went against the Congress-JD(S) state government.
A few months ago, the state government had threatened to cancel the license of cab aggregator Ola for launching an app wherein users could share a bike.
Recently, Parameshwara had endorsed Quick Ride carpooling app wherein car owners can offer rides and get points in return.
Not just that, Tanveer Pasha who is the president for the cab aggregators association has written a letter to Parameshwara stating that the government should not recognise and support car and bike pooling ventures.
This move comes weeks after a report by a high-level committee stating that bike taxis were not viable.
Deccan Chronicle quoted Pasha as saying, “This move by our deputy chief Minister is not acceptable. He knows that taxi drivers are opposed to the two services. Also, Dr Parameshwara should remember that the transport department had not given permission for Ola to run bike-taxis, which is illegal.”
Earlier, the transport department had issued a warning against the use of private cars for carpooling. The warning was in response to the launch of the carpooling service rPool by the online bus ticketing platform redBus.
The app was useful to car owners who could offer rides in their private cars and in return get rewards points which they could redeem at a fuel station. The service would also benefit passengers since the fares are lower than that of auto-rickshaws and cabs, claimed the platform.
However, the transport department officials said there is no legal provision to allow the use of private cars for commercial gain.
