‘False News’: K'taka Transport Min Denies Carpool Ban In Bengaluru, Says Let Aggregators Take Permission

Karnataka Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy denied any such claims of banning carpooling in Bengaluru.

Karnataka Transport Minister denies banning carpooling in Bengaluru

Karnataka Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy on Monday refuted the claims of a ban on carpooling in Bengaluru following some reports in the media over the same. Terming the claims as “false news”, Reddy said that where does the question of the banning arise when no aggregator has sought permission for carpooling in the tech city. He also said that the use of non-commercial vehicles with white number plates is illegal for carpooling purposes while commercial vehicles with yellow number plates have no such restrictions. 

"Carpooling is not banned, it is false news.   First, let them take permission. When they have not taken the permission where is the question of banning?  Everyone should follow the rules and regulations,” Reddy said in a post on X. 

“It is illegal to use non-commercial private vehicles with white number plates for carpooling purposes. Commercial Vehicles with yellow number plates can be used for carpooling by following appropriate guidelines,” he added. 

#WATCH | Karnataka Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy says, "Everybody including car, taxi, lorry, buses should follow rules and regulations regarding transport...For carpooling, they are running it in 'whiteboard' vehicles, let them take permission and run it..." pic.twitter.com/CggbvsNcGh

— ANI (@ANI) October 2, 2023

Reddy told Moneycontrol that no official order or notification has been issued regarding the banning and that he will meet carpooling aggregators on Tuesday. 

Based on a news report, Bharatiya Janata Party MP from Bengaluru South, Tejasvi Surya wrote a letter to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah urging the government to reconsider the ban. 

“Carpooling can get private vehicles off the road & bring ease during peak hour commute. The vehicular population has increased by 6,000% since 1990, making Bengaluru, a city with the highest vehicle density that commutes at 15kmph,” said Surya. 

“Karnataka Govt should prioritise 'Quality of Life' over outdated rules & encourage innovation among ridesharing apps to decongest the city,” he had said. 

A CEO of a carpooling app also confirmed to Moneycontrol that they have received no notice from the transport department and that they would be meeting the minister on Tuesday.