Rly Station Cabs Trapped In RedTape Again Over Licence Norms

Nagpur: The app-based cab service at Nagpur Railway Station has once again failed to take off due to a fresh bureaucratic wrangle between the regional transport office (RTO) and collector's office. What was supposed to be a simple, seamless facility, long denied to citizens, is now trapped in red tape with both govt departments unable to identify a policy norm for issuance of a licence to the aggregator.Collector Kumar Ashirwad said a meeting was held with officials and cab aggregators to discuss regulatory concerns. He noted that while a policy framework for cab aggregators exists, rules are yet to be finalised. "In the interim, we will prepare a proposal and submit it to the state transport authority, outlining the current situation, challenges faced by aggregators and seek issuance of a provisional licence," he said. He added a follow-up meeting with the aggregators has been scheduled for next week.What was touted as a gamechanger for passengers in the current heatwave has turned into another chapter of deadlock, leaving senior citizens, families and luggage-laden travellers stranded in the scorching temperatures. "There's no respite from the trauma of trekking 300m to avail a cab in this heat. And there's no relief from the auto mafia as well," said a harried passenger.The private cab aggregator, which was supposed to begin limited operations on May 1 at the west gate with a dedicated zone and a fleet of vehicles, has reportedly suspended its plan to kick off services, following new objections over licensing norms and pending No Objection Certificates (NOCs).Despite the tender being issued almost two months ago, sources indicate the absence of a comprehensive state policy on cab aggregators' licence has triggered fresh hurdles, forcing the operator to pull back operations. Commuters are once again forced to drag heavy baggage through chaotic traffic to makeshift points like Jaistambh Chowk or Mohini Complex."We were about to celebrate the launch only to find cabs missing. The heat is unbearable, and autos are fleecing us mercilessly," said a commuter.The cycle of delays has plagued Nagpur railway station for years. A fresh tender awarded to another aggregator in early 2026 promised relief by January, but repeated clearance issues of the approval committee comprising RTO and collector office deferred the rollout to May.A senior railway official claimed, "We are coordinating with the collector's office to fast-track the policy framework. The fresh queries on aggregator licensing have caused this temporary pause. We expect resolution within the week." The drop-offs function sporadically, but pick-ups remain paralysed.With no major players like Ola or Uber fully integrated due to the policy vacuum, the auto mafia continues to run amok. The mafia, long accused of dominating the ecosystem, allegedly exerts pressure whenever organised services threaten their turf, said a senior official.
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