Draft notification for Bike Taxis in New Town

Pic from Financial Express dt 6 March 2016

In terms of notification no.2576-WT/TR/3M-92/2009 dt 30.6.2016, the Transport Department, Govt of West Bengal has published a draft notification inviting comments on rules for introducing bike taxi services in New Town. The notification proposes to allow two-wheelers as Contract Carriages in terms of section 2(7) of the MotorVehicles Act 1988. Permits would be given by RTA (Regional Transport Authority) North 24-Paraganas.

I thanked Hon'ble Transport Minister Subhendu Adhikary and Transport Secretary Alapan Bandyopadhyay last week for the notification. I've had a preliminary discussion with Ola officials and agency running it in Gurgaon mostly to bring the contents of the notification to their knowledge. Once the final notification is done (last date of suggestion was last Friday) , we from NKDA will take further action. With service roads, wide streets and a planned network of roads and auto-stands, New Town residents and visitors should have great use of the bike Taxis once these are on road.

The draft notification says that the area of operations for the bike taxis in the pilot phase would be within New Town, that Major Arterial Roads would not be accessible to Bike Taxis except crossings and the colour would be white with words "Bike Taxi" written in blue letters. GPS tracking of bikes would be done. More than one pillion rider would not be allowed. No minors would be allowed. Helmets for rider will be provided by the driver. No luggage except very limited backpack / briefcase will be allowed. Service provider will develop an App for use by citizens. The Service Provider must have at least 15 bikes.

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Clippings:

Khabar 265 dt 17 July 2016

Millennium Post dt 17 July 2016