Soon, cab aggregators will have to ensure apps are verified

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has come out with a policy which will put the onus on states to ensure apps used by cab aggregators are validated.

These apps will have to be checked and verified by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.

The policy forms a part of recommendations forwarded by a Central government committee which was set up last year to look into cases of passenger safety with regards to apps.

The government sees the policy's measures extending to black & yellow taxis, radio taxis and aggregators.

Finalised in December, 2016 the committee in its policy recommended that city taxis be allowed to run on app-based platforms. The policy recommendations also ensure that bigger aggregators do not undercut the traditional cabs.

"The major focus of the policy is to ensure safe, secure and affordable ride to the common public so as to help in reducing congestion as well as pollution in the cities," said a statement from MoRTH.

While the policy is only recommendatory in nature it would help to provide a particular framework to help the states in framing detailed regulations. The power of enforcement of these provisions rest with the state governments.