Uber, Ola finally fall in line; start submitting details of drivers, obtaining licencesA transport department notice issued in April asking taxi aggregators Ola and Uber to stop services in Karnataka mysteriously surfaced in social media on Sunday leading to widespread confusion in Bengaluru. However, the transport department told Bangalore Mirror that the two major taxi aggregators have now fallen in line and thus a crackdown was not required. The notice, which was issued on April 24, states that the aggregators must obtain licence before providing services and must immediately cease operations unless they do so.After the transport department did some tough-talking, both the aggregators approached transport department officials providing details of their fleet, driver details among others. Transport commissioner Rame Gowda said, “We have asked the representatives of both Ola and Uber who met us on Saturday to strictly follow the guidelines.Following the meeting, Ola has given details of 100 drivers who have attached their vehicles with them and Uber agreed to give the names of 129 drivers. They have also said the rest of the fleet details would be provided in due course. They have also paid a bank guarantee as required under the new guidelines.” On Saturday, the transport department had issued a statement that taxi aggregators who have failed to register should stop their business with immediate effect. The department had maintained that by not registering, some taxi aggregators in the city were violating the guidelines of ‘Karnataka On Demand Transportation Technology Aggregator’s Rules 2016.’The rules were finally notified on April 2, 2016. There is one more reason why the transport department came down heavily on these aggregators: the repeated protest by drivers. On Friday, drivers carried out a massive protest in Freedom Park demanding that the state government take direct action against aggregators instead targeting drivers. They had also given Monday as the deadline to resolve the issue. WILL SURGE END? Once taxi aggregators register under new the guidelines, they have to follow various rules which include prohibiting surge pricing The guidelines state that aggregators cannot charge fare beyond the cap fixed by the government that is `19.50 per km for AC cars and `14.50 for non-AC cars. In addition to this, guidelines also instruct the aggregators to install digital meters with printers, panic buttons among others.An official of the department said, “Major aggregators like Ola and Uber are delaying registration to avoid rules on surge pricing. Once they register, they have to follow the rules on surge pricing. During IPL matches, rainy seasons and peak hours, they charge hefty fares and fleece customers. But violating norms on fares once they register would invite action.” Bangalore Mirror contacted both Ola and Uber for comment but they did not respond.DEFY BAN ON OPERATIONSThough the transport had issued a statement asking aggregators to stop their business with immediate effect, operations of both Ola and Uber were as usual on Sunday. A higher official of the department said, “We decided not to crack down on Sunday by carrying out drives because it would have caused huge inconvenience to people as there was IPL final on the day. But they (aggregators) will invite action if they continue to violate rules.”