With 70k cabs in NCR, Uber weighs in on Delhi’s plan to ban entry of app-based taxis from other states

In letter to Delhi’s transport commissioner, Uber says 'indiscriminate restriction' on CNG cabs would force people to move to the more-polluting diesel and petrol vehicles.

Uber branding is seen on private hire vehicle | Reuters file photo

New Delhi: With a ban looming on app-based taxis coming into Delhi from neighbouring states, Uber has urged a rethink, saying their cabs run on clean fuels such as CNG or batteries.

In a letter to Delhi’s transport commissioner, Uber Thursday said “an indiscriminate restriction” on CNG would force people to move to the more-polluting diesel and petrol vehicles.

The cab aggregator’s letter comes a day after Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai said the government would ban app-based taxis with non-Delhi registration numbers “in accordance with the Supreme Court’s orders”.

The government, however, has not specified when the ban would be enforced.

On Tuesday, the top court asked Delhi to consider allowing only locally-registered vehicles on city roads, in another possible measure to tackle rising pollution. The bench observed a large number of taxis registered in other states were seen in Delhi, often carrying just one passenger.

As the debate over pollution intensifies, many are calling for stricter measures to control the entry of polluting vehicles into the NCR, which could significantly impact air quality.

While asserting it was committed to do its bit to lessen pollution in the national capital region, the company argued a ban would inconvenience people, particularly those who wished to access “critical infrastructure” like the airport, railway stations or even major hospitals.

To further bolster its case, Uber cited a recent study by the Delhi Technological University which has found that less than 2 percent of the air pollution in Delhi could be attributed to four-wheelers. The company said this implied a need to concentrate on other polluting factors “which have a significant impact on emissions”.

Uber urged the Delhi government to “take an all-encompassing view based on scientific evidence”, while keeping in mind “the larger humanitarian crisis this move can precipitate”.

The aggregator, which runs 70,000 cabs in the Delhi-NCR region, sought an audience with the Delhi government, and said it was committed to ensure any requirement for “clean and reliable mobility solutions”.