Aggregators have been mandated to ensure that drivers have health and term insurance of at least Rs 5 lakh and Rs 10 lakh respectively.The guidelines also specified that a Grievance Officer shall be appointed by the aggregator.”An aggregator shall not onboard vehicles which have been registered for more than a period of eight years from the date of initial registration of the vehicle and shall ensure that all vehicles onboarded by it should not have exceeded eight years since the date of initial registration of the vehicle,” as per the guidelines.To ensure passengers safety, the aggregators have been directed to ensure installation of the Vehicle Location and Tracking Devices (VLTD) in vehicles and to make sure that Vehicle Location and Tracking Devices are functional all the time.Further, cab aggregators should make certain that the driver follows the route indicated in the app through an in-built mechanism and in case of any deviation, the app shall signal the control room, which shall then connect with the driver and the passenger immediately.As per the guidelines the aggregator shall establish a call centre with an active telephone number and e-mail address, displayed clearly on its website and on the App, which shall be operational 24×7, providing assistance in English and along-with the official language of the state.”The aggregator shall mandatorily adhere to the targets fixed for inclusion of electric vehicles in their fleet, the guidelines said,” adding that the targets shall be fixed by an appropriate government organization responsible for regulating air quality or by the state government.In 2020, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways issued the “Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines 2020” under Section 93 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.Since 2020, India’s shared mobility ecosystem has undergone rapid and significant change. The rise in demand for diverse and flexible mobility solutions including bike-sharing, introduction of electric vehicles (EVs), and auto-rickshaw rides, has widened the consumer base.The new guidelines attempt to provide a light-touch regulatory system while attending to issues of safety and security of the user and the welfare of the driver.
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