• October 5, 2020

Indian Taxi App Ola banned in London over public safety concerns

LONDON Oct 5: Transport for London (TfL) has stripped Indian-ride hailing company Ola of its operating license as the taxi app was considered not “fit and proper” to hold an operating licence having put passengers at risk.

It has been operating in London since February, with TfL reporting that there were a number of failings, including more than 1,000 trips being made by unlicensed drivers.

Helen Chapman, the director of licensing, regulation and charging at Transport for London has stated that “We will closely scrutinize the company to ensure passenger safety is not
compromised”.

The app is in direct competition with other taxi apps but also the giant, Uber, who themselves had faced a treacherous legal battle with regulators in London, but had succeeded in receiving a license renewal for 18 months after a judge ruled that it had a right to operate in London.

Ola has 21 days to appeal against the decision but can continue to operate pending the outcome of any appeal process.

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