Uber, Ola, Rapido: Jobs at risk as Delhi bans motorbike taxis

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India's capital Delhi has banned motorbike taxis from its roads, dealing a blow to companies such as Uber, Ola and Rapido.

A government notice says that using private two-wheelers to carry passengers for hire violates Indian law.

The notice adds that "digital providers... facilitating such operations" could be fined up to 100,000 rupees ($1,208; £1,005).

The companies have not commented yet.

Thousands of Indians use affordable motorbike taxis every day to zip through slow-moving traffic. They also provide employment to hundreds and thousands of people, many of whom use their private motorbikes to transport passengers.

But according to the Motor Vehicles Act, private vehicles cannot be used for commercial operations in India.

 

The Indian Express newspaper spoke to some drivers affected by the ban in Delhi, who said they would find it hard to make ends meet without the extra income.