BENGALURU: The Transport Department has set a three-day deadline for app-based cab aggregators to stop offering carpool or shared services to consumers.The services are in violation of the Motor Vehicles Act and hence cannot be allowed, Transport Commissioner MK Aiyappa told the media after holding an hour-long meeting with the representatives of aggregators and sections of drivers. The cabs cannot pick up from and drop passengers at multiple locations before closing each trip, he said.The aggregators, the Commissioner said, have asked for three days to make changes in the software that powers the app. He conceded the demand and said the transport officials will start booking the violators after the period. The department's decision also follows strong protests from the city's transport utility BMTC. The letter from BMTC managing director Ekroop Caur says revenues have been hit because of carpool offered by aggregators as well as by other private operators."They are also offering services with fixed schedules on specific routes - for example Hebbal to Marathahalli. That is not allowed at all," she added.The cab operators offer their services under the contract carriage licence which requires the operator to pick up passengers from point A and drop at point B and not allow others to board the cab midway. The stage carriage permit, on the other hand, allows the vehicle (bus) to pick up and drop passengers along its scheduled route. BMTC has the exclusive right to pick up and drop a pool of commuters in the city, said HG Kumar, Additional Commissioner for Transport. The permits, he added, are issued under the Motor Vehicles Act which is a Union Government legislation.Aiyappa agreed that carpool as a concept reduces pollution and decongests the city but to allow that would require changes in the policy. The state government, he said, could permit it in public interest by way of an executive order as provided for under the MV Act. "If the aggregators make a representation, we will study it and recommend for appropriate policies to the government," he said.The aggregators also have plans to approach the Union Government to amend Motor Vehicle Act.A regional transport officer said not only do the licence conditions come in the way of carpool, there also are the issues of ensuring the security of women users. "How can we allow a cab being used by a woman to pick up two other men, who are strangers to the woman. How do we ensure security in such situations," he asked.Suchitra Anish, brand consultant and a frequent carpool user, said she has found carpooling to be cheaper and environment-friendly ."Carpool is encouraged in many countries," she said. "There are, of course, safety issues but banning is not the solution. Instead, regulators can think of solutions like women-only car pool system if a woman were to book a ride."At the meeting with the Transport Commissioner, drivers also requested the department's intervention with the aggregators on the minimum trips they are required to make and the drop in incentives."We would like to reiterate that UberPOOL is clearly within the law. We will continue to engage with the transport department and Karnataka government as ridesharing products like uberPOOL are the future of urban mobility, helping decongest cities by getting more people into fewer cars and letting riders move around their city more affordably," according to an Uber spokesperson. Ola is yet to respond.