In response to the severe pollution crisis in Delhi, concerns are mounting about the possible ban of app-based taxi services like Ola and Uber. The Delhi Transport Department has been directed by the Supreme Court to explore this option, but detailed orders are still awaited.
Supreme Court’s Involvement: The Supreme Court recently called upon the Delhi government to evaluate the presence of out-of-state registered taxis on city roads, especially during the ongoing pollution crisis. The Court stressed the importance of monitoring and suggested that only locally registered taxis be allowed to operate as an additional pollution control measure.
Minister’s Instructions: Delhi’s Environment Minister, Gopal Rai, conveyed the Supreme Court’s recommendations and has instructed the Transport Department to consider a potential ban on app-based taxis originating from outside Delhi.
Diesel Vehicle Assessment: Furthermore, the Supreme Court’s guidance also extends to evaluating diesel vehicles. The transport department is currently investigating the number and potential impact of BS-VI diesel vehicles to determine whether they should be banned, in addition to the ban on diesel cars with orange stickers already in place under GRAP guidelines.
