Carpooling Now Illegal In Bengaluru As Government Imposes Fine Of Up To Rs 10,000

Carpooling, once considered a simple and cost-effective hack in Bengaluru, has now become a source of trouble, as the Karnataka government has prohibited this practice and the utilisation of related platforms.

The Karnataka transit authority declared it unlawful to employ whiteboard vehicles for commercial travel, stating that a penalty between Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000 could be imposed on anyone caught running carpooling services.

Carpooling services are offered by various ride-hailing applications such as BlaBla Car, Quickride, Rideshare, Commute Easy, and Carpool Adda, catering to individuals who are willing to share their journey with others for a set fee.

Carpooling, often used by IT workers in Bengaluru to get to work during rush hour, was seen as a way to decrease the quantity of cars on the road. But the local taxi unions have voiced concerns that this practice is negatively impacting their income. Consequently, they have asked the government to intervene against these services.

The taxi groups and the union of autorickshaw drivers in Bengaluru recently organized a strike and made several demands to Karnataka's transport minister, Ramalinga Reddy. Among their key requests is the prohibition of bike taxis, which the minister affirmed would be reviewed after going through legal formalities.

With a populace of 11 million, Bengaluru boasts the most substantial traffic density among all major cities in India. This city has approximately 12.5 million vehicles, implying that there is one vehicle per resident.

The recent severe traffic congestion on Bengaluru's Outer Ring Road, home to many IT parks and international businesses, has left numerous commuters stuck for hours. The local traffic authorities in Bengaluru are already making plans to address the recurring traffic jam issues on this section of the road.