Decision to ban carpooling faces criticism

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: After the authorities banned carpooling within city limits and imposed a fine of up to Rs 10,000 for the same, citizens and activists in Bengaluru have expressed disappointment with the decision.

The Karnataka government on Saturday had announced that carpooling in Bengaluru is banned and advised passengers not to take rides from the carpooling apps.

The decision is said to be taken after the government received complaints from taxi driver associations. The residents have however alleged that the state government's decision was purely under the pressure of the private transport association.

Soon after the decision, several people took to social media to express their displeasure over the ban. They pointed out that the carpooling ban would result in inconvenience and concerns rather than any good.

"Wouldn't this lead to more vehicles, more pollution?," a user on X, previously twitter, asked while another questioned, "Won't it increase the traffic?"

"This is because of extensive lobbying by the taxi unions. There was no lobbying by the users- this is the result. This is why a little bit of political activism is necessary. Staying 'apolitical' doesn't work even if you are a big taxpayer," said another user.

The citizens claimed that the ban came in the favour of the autorickshaw drivers and ignored the public at large. Along with messages addressing the situation, hilarious memes also surfaced on social media.

People sarcastically praised the ban by calling it a "Next-level, great thinking."

The Karnataka government this September termed the usage of whiteboard (private) vehicles for commercial travel 'illegal.' The decision led to a crack down on apps providing carpooling services in Bengaluru.

Reportedly, drivers engaged in carpooling henceforth may face a six month suspension of their registration certificate (RC) and a penalty ranging from Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000 if caught.

Meanwhile Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Lok Sabha MP from Bengaluru South, Tejasvi Surya, on Sunday, urged the Karnataka government to reconsider the ban on carpooling in the city.

In a letter to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, he urged the government to make necessary legislative changes in the city but the decision of banning carpooling might lead to extreme traffic congestion in the IT city, he said.