Ola, Uber Apply For Aggregator Licence In Maharashtra After SC Order

Ride-sharing majors Ola and Uber have reportedly applied to the Maharashtra government for an aggregator licence to operate in the state.

A PTI report, citing a Regional Transport Office (RTO) official, said that the two have applied at Mumbai’s Tardeo RTO, which has jurisdiction over the city. Bharat Kalaskar, the officer from Tardeo RTO, was cited as saying that the office received applications from Ola and Uber for licences three to four days ago.

The applications are under process right now and the regional office will forward them to the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Transport Authority (MMRTA) for a final decision, according to Kalaskar.

The development comes almost a month after the Supreme Court directed Uber to apply for a fresh aggregator licence with the Maharashtra government. 

“You (Uber) apply for a licence or adhere to guidelines…You cannot operate under an interim order of the court. You cannot work as an aggregator without a licence and that is a statutory mandate… We are of the view that interim order permitting them to operate without licence cannot stand, as an aggregator cannot work in absence of licence. Uber to apply for a licence within a period of three weeks, on or before March 6, 2023,” a Bench led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud said on February 13.

The apex court had given Uber time till March 6 to apply for the licence. At the same time, the court asked the state government to take a decision on Uber’s application within two weeks of receiving it and also directed the government to formulate a regulatory framework expeditiously.

Uber had been plying its trade in Maharashtra under a provisional aggregator licence, which was awarded to it following a Bombay High Court order in March 2022. The CJI-led bench also pulled up the Maharashtra government for the uncertainty.

“The indecision of the state government leads to uncertainty in the business of aggregators, which is best avoided. We also don’t want Uber to come to a halt. You must decide quickly. Problems arise as you don’t make rules,” the CJI told the Maharashtra government counsel.

Though Ola did not respond to PTI’s queries regarding the application, an Uber spokesperson confirmed submission at the RTO. “Uber has applied well within the deadline set by the apex court,” said the spokesperson.

It must be noted that Uber, Ola and Rapido are currently also locked in a battle with the Delhi government over its move to ban bike taxis in the national capital.