Delhi traffic cops book app-based cabs to challan/impound them

NEW DELHI: In a bid to beat banned app-based taxi services including Uber at their own game, Delhi Traffic Police has asked its officials to download their apps and book cabs so as to challan and impound the car when it arrives.

In the last 24 hours, the department has challaned 158 cabs and impounded 120 of them in the city.

"In order to effectively enforce the ban on these services, we have asked all our Traffic Inspectors (TIs) to download the mobile App, book a taxi and when it arrives challan it. The offending vehicle will also be impounded and a letter will be written to Transport Department to cancel the permit of the vehicle," said Special Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Muktesh Chander.

Liability of the company (Uber, Ola or Taxi for Sure) will also be fixed under sections 93(1), 193 and 199 MV Act. Kalandara (report) will be made and sent to court against the company apart from challaning the driver, he added.

Traffic Police is also requesting the Transport Department to initiate action under Section 188 of IPC against company executives for not obeying the government directions.

The Transport Department of Delhi had banned app-based taxi services Uber, Ola and Taxi For Sure from operating their services on December 8, 2014, police said.

They were banned in the national capital following the rape of a financial consultant allegedly by a cab driver working in partnership with Uber in December last year.

The government has also issued directions for blocking the website and mobile app of these services. But still these taxi services continue to operate in Delhi clandestinely.