The license of Ola-Uber providing cab-taxi service in Chandigarh expired a monthago, but till now the companies are working in full swing. The State Transport Authority (STA) is claiming to issue the challan, but that action is also proving to be inadequate; hence, the STA has issued a notice to both companies to stop work. Earlier, only Ola-Uber had the license to run cabs in the city, which expired on November 4. More than four thousand cabs from both companies are running in the city, most of which are registered in Mohali and Panchkula. Both the aggregator companies have also applied for the license, but due to the outstanding entry tax of about Rs 6 crore, the STA has not issued the license, hence the matter has become complicated. The companies have been saying for a long time that only the cab drivers will pay the entry tax, whereas the cab drivers say that the aggregator companies have signed an agreement with the STA, hence the entry tax should also be paid by the companies. Meanwhile, a few months ago, the STA issued challans to many drivers, after which the drivers surrounded the STA. Now the matter is in the Punjab-Haryana High Court. According to sources, STA is not in favor of issuing licenses without collecting entry tax. However, cab drivers are at loggerheads between the company and STA, and their challans are being issued. Officials of the cab drivers union say that the matter should be resolved soon, as many houses are being affected due to this and all are being badly affected. There could be a crisis if companies stop working. Thousands of people in the city book cabs every day on the mobile apps of aggregator companies and use cabs for various purposes, including commuting to work, traveling, etc. This also helps the cab drivers earn their living. If companies stop working, there could be a big crisis in the city. Currently, only InDriver and Rapido have licenses. In addition, Rapido provides only a bike taxi
service. However, according to sources, the companies will not stop work as they claim that they have applied for the license. There is a delay on the part of STA in issuing the license. STA Secretary Rupesh Kumar says that the applications of both aggregator companies are under consideration.
