After securing approval, Maharashtra government endorses private carpooling scheme, similar to bike sharing.
Hop in, Mumbai! Carpooling is Now Legal
Mumbai, brace yourself for a new era of shared rides! After granting permission for bike pooling, the Maharashtra cabinet has given the green light to carpooling in private vehicles through registered apps or web-based platforms, as announced on Wednesday.
During its meeting on Tuesday, the Maharashtra cabinet approved carpooling, a move that could stir some controversy among taxi and auto-rickshaw drivers, whose businesses might take a hit as a result of this ride-sharing service.
The central government's Aggregator Policy 2020, which encourages pooling of non-transport vehicles, inspired this decision. However, state governments have the power to put a stop to this pooling method if they see fit.
Carpooling, or ride-sharing, allows multiple individuals to travel together in a private vehicle, usually along a common route or destination. This practice reduces traffic congestion, lowers fuel costs, and cuts down on vehicle emissions.
Although carpooling discussions have been ongoing for more than two decades, the Maharashtra government had yet to give it the go-ahead. Some apps, however, were clandestinely providing carpooling services on highly sought-after routes like Mumbai-Pune, commonly evading the notice of Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) and police authorities.
The carpooling services, once implemented, will only be allowed through registered mobile applications or web portals. For the protection of female passengers, the option to travel with female drivers will be offered.
On these app-based carpooling platforms, drivers will be prohibited from conducting more than 14 pooling trips per week. The Regional Transport Authority (RTA) will set the applicable rates. Carpooling fares will not exceed the rates fixed for comparable types of cabs, a decision based on factors such as fuel costs, tolls, insurance, and others.
The transport department is now working on creating detailed rules and regulations for carpooling, following the state cabinet's approval.
As per the cabinet decision, aggregators will bear the responsibility of verifying both car drivers and users, as well as authenticating user contact information and publishing service and contact details. It is mandatory for both drivers and passengers to have insurance, and users must provide their residential and office addresses, while drivers must disclose the starting and end points of each journey.
(This story is syndicated from a third-party source and has not been edited by our staff. For more insights into Maharashtra's carpooling regulations, consider the following enrichments:)
Insights:
- Trip limits and fare structure: Drivers offering carpooling services are capped at 14 trips per week to ensure compliance with ride-sharing objectives and maintain affordability[1]. Rates are determined by the Regional Transport Authority to maintain transparency[1].
- Integration with Aggregator Regulations: The policy aligns carpooling with rules for app-based taxi services, including surge pricing restrictions and cancellation penalties[2].
- Operational framework: Fitness certifications as mandated by the Motor Vehicles Act apply to vehicles, with regular inspections at Authorized Testing Stations[5]. Cars for carpooling requiring inter-state travel would need an All-India Tourist Permit[5].
- Broader Policy Context: The regulations follow a Supreme Court directive and were shaped by a committee headed by retired IAS officer SK Shrivastava, aiming to balance commuter convenience with driver accountability[2].
- The Maharashtra government has permitted carpooling in private vehicles, as announced on Wednesday, following the central government's Aggregator Policy 2020 that encourages pooling of non-transport vehicles.
- The new carpooling policy in Maharashtra could potentially impact taxi and auto-rickshaw drivers, as multiple individuals traveling together in a private vehicle may reduce the demand for traditional taxi services.
- The carpooling services, once implemented, will only be allowed through registered mobile applications or web portals, and will have a fare structure determined by the Regional Transport Authority to maintain transparency.
- Clandestine carpooling services, which have been offered on high-demand routes like Mumbai-Pune, will be regulated under the new policy, with the transport department creating detailed rules and regulations for their operation.
- The new regulations for carpooling in Maharashtra are part of a broader policy context, following a Supreme Court directive and being shaped by a committee headed by retired IAS officer SK Shrivastava, aiming to strike a balance between commuter convenience and driver accountability.
