If you are tourist planning to visit Madhya Pradesh, there is a bundle of good news! Tourists visiting the state will now have bike taxis to their service plying through the narrow lanes or making way across traffic snarls.
Post successful experiment at one of the world’s biggest congregations, Simhastha Mela, held at Ujjain during 2016, the transport authorities have come up with a policy for the bike taxis.The service is being targeted to cut down on heavy commotion and traffic jams that become commonplace in the state during Simhastha Mela.
Shailendra Shrivastava, Transport Commissioner, Madhya Pradesh said,
We are coming up with a policy next month for the motorbike taxis. The operation of these taxis would be App based.
The transport commissioner also informed that temporary permits were issued for three months for bike taxis. Afterward, a draft policy was issued by designated authorities inviting claims and objections. Since the process has been completed, the policy is now being finalized by the state governemnt and will likely be released by the same.
As of now, the state government had only allowed operation of taxis by only one company in Indore, but post policy release it would become easier for other taxi providers too to get a license for bike taxi operations in the state.
According to the proposed draft policy, the photo and the details of the bike driver would be available on the app when someone hires the services. Regional Transport Authority (RTA) would fix the rate of services.
The commissioner informed that permits would be granted only after thorough verification and security features. Companies having at least 25 bike taxis will be permitted taxi operations.Moreover, in addition to the necessary safety arrangements, bike riders will be proposed to keep a helmet for the person, who will hire their bike taxis. A system to propose the movement of Taxis will be implemented through GPS in the coming while.
Earlier in 2017, Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways had expressed confidence that bike taxis will offer solutions not only for wading through severe traffic congestions in metropolises but can provide affordable transportation to people in far-flung rural areas.