In the wake of controversies over carpooling in Bengaluru, Karnataka transport minister Ramalinga Reddy met representatives of carpooling app Quick Ride on October 3.
KNM Rao, founder & CEO of Quick Ride, submitted a letter urging the state government to create guidelines on the lines of foreign cities. A copy of the letter, available with Moneycontrol, sought Karnataka government's support for carpooling to reduce traffic congestion and vehicular pollution in Bengaluru.
MV Rajeev Gowda, vice chairperson of the State Institute For The Transformation of Karnataka (State Planning Board) and senior transport department officials were also present in the meeting.
The Karnataka government clarified on October 2 that there is no ban on carpooling. However, if carpooling intends to generate monetary benefits, operators should apply for a licence and use yellow-board vehicles.
Also, read: No ban on carpooling in Bengaluru, clarifies govt; transport minister to meet aggregators on Oct 3
Private transport associations in Bengaluru observed a strike on September 11 and one of their demands had been to ban carpooling. Bengaluru traffic police have been promoting carpooling initiatives to reduce congestion in the city.
Consider carpooling a non-commercial activity: Quick Ride
The letter from Quick Ride suggested considering carpooling (sharing of vehicles and costs without profit) as a non-commercial activity in line with Niti Aayog recommendations and allowing it to continue in Bengaluru. It also proposed defining carpooling guidelines and policies within a framework. The letter emphasised that Singapore and other countries have defined carpooling exemptions in their Road and Transport Acts.
"In Bengaluru, Quick Ride alone has more than 13 lakh registered users, resulting in more than 1.85 crore carpool trips in the last eight years," it said.
The letter argued that carpooling reduces traffic congestion and fuel consumption, with each carpool involving two colleagues removing one vehicle from the road. "Recent reports suggesting carpooling is illegal and subject to fines have caused panic among carpoolers in Bengaluru," it said.
The letter contended that calling carpooling a commercial activity is inappropriate. In genuine carpooling, colleagues or neighbours come together to share and rotate vehicles while sharing ride costs.
"Quick Ride has engaged employees from over 800+ enterprises and tech parks, including 8 out of the top 10 IT companies. Quick Ride has enabled Wipro to optimise 11 percent of parking space and reduce vehicle movement to Manyata Tech Park from 16,000 to 13,000."
"Unlike commercial services, carpooling with Quick Ride involves car owners already travelling on a pre-defined route for their own purposes, willing to share their empty seats with members from the same company, tech park, or apartment. Carpooling contributions are measured in points that can be exchanged for ride costs or vehicle maintenance," it said.
"Quick Ride's carpooling platform ensures that users cannot make a profit from carpooling. It is considered a non-commercial and social service aimed at sharing vehicles and ride costs, similar to a group of friends sharing a ride and fuel costs," it said.
Transport minister said they will examine and formulate guidelines
Karnataka transport minister Ramalinga Reddy said, "Quick Ride stated that they are not engaging in it for commercial purposes, but rather to reduce congestion, so I requested them to provide this in writing. They also presented NITI Aayog and Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MORTH) guidelines on carpooling. I've instructed NV Prasad, transport secretary, to examine and and formulate guidelines accordingly. We will look into demands and take a decision within 10 days. Until then, carpooling apps can operate," he said.
Reiterating that carpooling has not been banned in the city, he clarified, "There has been no official written order or notification regarding a ban thus far. Some individuals on social media are spreading these rumours."
Gowda of the State Planning Board told Moneycontrol that they have taken inputs from Quick Ride and are examining how it can be incorporated into the existing rules. "It was a fruitful discussion with the minister, Quick Ride, and transport officials on how to facilitate carpooling services in the city."
Transport department is confused: BJP MP
Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya said the Karnataka transport department seems to have confused carpooling with ride splitting. "Carpooling is an activity where the owner of a private whiteboard vehicle goes to a destination of his choice, and takes along a co-passenger who shares the expenses of the ride.
"In this case the vehicle necessarily is a private whiteboard vehicle. The driver is not hired, and the owner or the driver does not make any profit. When the state government says that, they will ban carpooling of whiteboard vehicles," said Surya.
"It essentially means that they are banning carpooling. Contrast to this is the concept of ride splitting, which organisations and aggregates like Uber Pool and Ola Share are already currently doing. In this case passengers going on a particular route of their choice hire a taxi that operates it for profit, and they share the riding expenses along the route, which is going to be a common route for the passengers. But this is a for-profit activity typically undertaken by a for-hire driver running a yellow board taxi," said Surya.
Also read: Cab drivers’ union harasses carpooling app users in Bengaluru, calls it illegal
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