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MUMBAI: Days after giving a green signal to bike pooling, the Maharashtra cabinet has given a go-ahead to carpooling in private cars through registered apps or web-based platforms in the state, officials said on Wednesday.
The cabinet approved carpooling during its meeting held on Tuesday.
The cabinet’s back-to-back decisions to allow both carpooling and bike pooling within a month are likely to draw opposition from taxi and autorickshaw drivers, whose businesses may be adversely affected by ridesharing services.
The Union government’s Aggregator Policy 2020 allows pooling of non-transport vehicles, including cars and two-wheelers, with the aim of reducing traffic congestion and pollution while improving asset utilisation. However, state governments retain the authority to prohibit such pooling.
In carpooling, also known as ride-sharing, individuals share a private vehicle to travel together, typically along a common route or to a shared destination. Carpooling helps in reducing congestion, lowering fuel costs, and cutting down on emissions.
Carpooling as a legal service was under discussion for more than two decades, but the Maharashtra government had not given permission. But some apps were illegally providing carpooling services on some high-demand routes like Mumbai-Pune. Such operators mostly remained off the radar of the Regional Transport Offices and police.
As per the cabinet decision, carpooling services will only be allowed through registered mobile applications or web portals. For the safety of female passengers, the option to travel with female drivers will be provided. PTI