Uber may resume services in Delhi: Report

Uber, the online taxi service may resume its **services in New Delhi** as the government plans to amend changes to the Radio Taxi Scheme and provide same regulations to web-based taxi aggregators, according to a report The Economic Times. Earlier this month, the company was banned from operating its services after a female passenger was raped by a driver on Uber network in Delhi. The home ministry had issued an advisory seeking the ban and said that ’taxi aggregators were using vehicles with tourist permits to operate point-to-point taxi services, which they were not permitted to do as these cabs were not explicitly licensed as radio taxis.’ Citing two senior home ministry officials, the ET report reveals that the Delhi Transport Department may issue a notification next week that will bring app-based aggregators under the Radio Taxi Scheme of 2006.  “This, while applicable in the national capital, could serve as a template of sorts for other states and pave the way for Uber and other firms, which had stopped operations in Delhi, to apply for a licence and resume operations, adds the report. With the new amendment, companies like Uber will be held responsible for the conduct of drivers employed and will also need to ensure their police verification. Some other changes in the new radio taxi regulations include mandatory GPS/GPRS tracking devices, valid public service badge issued in Delhi, driver’s photograph and licence details displayed on the dashboard and so on. Earlier this month, a 27-year old woman in Delhi was **raped inside a cab** she had booked using the popular taxi app Uber. The finance professional had hired the cab from Gurgaon to go home. She fell asleep in the back and woke up to find the cab in a secluded area. The driver then went on to sexually assault her and threatened her with dire consequences if she informed the cops. Later he dropped her home and abandoned the vehicle.