Source : PTI | West Bengal Transport Minister Arjun Singh took stock of a host of issues concerning app cab operators, including fare revision and CNG availability, officials said on Wednesday.
At a meeting held here late on Tuesday, Singh also directed officials to initiate steps to address concerns raised by the operators, they said.
A major point of discussion was the “shortage” of CNG, a transport department official said.
The minister has asked the authorities “to ensure adequate CNG supplies and approach alternative suppliers if the situation demands”, he said.
The app cab operators also flagged issues concerning fares, compensation for commercial vehicles requisitioned for law-and-order duties, expansion of EV charging infrastructure and mechanisms for resolving drivers’ grievances, the official said.
Complaints of private or non-commercial vehicles operating through aggregator apps also figured prominently at the meeting, he said.
“A seven-day period should be provided to the owners and operators of such vehicles to voluntarily opt out of offering those for hire through aggregator platforms,” Singh said.
“Strict enforcement against vehicles continuing such operations after the stipulated period will follow,” he said.
The state government is also examining the long-pending demand by the operators for fare revision, the minister said.
Kolkata has around 21,000 active app cabs operating across the city, the transport department official said.
