Latest news with #RTOs
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
Over 300 cases booked, 100+ autos seized for overcharging in Bengaluru
In a bid to check overcharging by autorickshaw drivers following the bike-taxi ban, an enforcement drive across the city Monday saw nearly 300 cases of violations and over 100 autos being seized. As complaints of daylight robbery by both regular and app-based auto drivers pour in, the crackdown, directed by transport minister Ramalinga Reddy, involved 22 enforcement teams operating from early morning till evening. The drive covered both the city centre and outer areas including Devanahalli, Chandapura and Magadi. Jayanagar RTO reported the highest number of violations with 48 cases and 18 vehicles seized, followed by Rajajinagar RTO (36 cases and 13 seizures). Additional transport commissioner (enforcement) C Mallikarjuna said: "Field staff verified complaints directly with passengers to confirm the fare and distance travelled. Cases were booked only after ensuring drivers violated rates fixed by Regional Transport Authority (RTA)." Many of the seized vehicles lacked essential documentation like valid permits, fitness certificates and legal papers. "These are serious offences. Penalties in such cases can range from Rs 3,000 to Rs 4,000. A detailed report from RTOs will offer more clarity," Mallikarjuna said. Passengers alleged that ride-hailing apps have been levying unauthorised fees — congestion charges, pick-up fees, driver surcharges and even pre-booking tips — in clear violation of transport norms. In Bengaluru, RTA has fixed Rs 30 as the base fare for first 2km and Rs 15 for every additional km. Despite this, commuters have been forced to pay more, especially after the ban on bike taxis increased demand for autos. The city currently has around 3.6 lakh operational autos. The department has said it will soon evaluate the role of aggregators in these violations. "Once RTOs submit reports, action will be taken against app-based platforms as well," Mallikarjuna said. CN Sreenivas, president, Autorickshaw Drivers' Union (CITU), acknowledged the issue, saying 80-90% of auto drivers in the city have joined aggregator platforms. "The department has no control over these platforms. They've introduced tactics like platform fees and tips to maintain a commission-based model," he said. The transport department has confirmed its enforcement drive will continue in the coming days. New minimum fare At Rs 38? Sreenivas told TOI it has been months since a committee headed by a DCP submitted a report to the Bengaluru Urban deputy commissioner on revision of auto fares. Auto unions had demanded Rs 40 as base fare for the first 2km and subsequently Rs 20 per km. Sources said RTA is likely to consider Rs 38 as base fare and Rs 18 per km thereafter. Sreenivas said they will meet the minister seeking fare revision.
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Indian Express
260 autorickshaw drivers in Bengaluru booked for overcharging, illegal operations
The Karnataka Transport Department Monday impounded 98 autorickshaws and booked 260 drivers in Bengaluru in a day-long crackdown against violating transport regulations. The operation, which began at 8 am, involved 22 special investigation teams from the Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) across the city. The teams took action against violations, including charging fares exceeding those fixed by the government and operating without valid permits. The initiative was launched following a surge in complaints from commuters and as part of enforcing uniform fare structures across the city. The crackdown comes days after Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy directed Transport Commissioner Yogesh A M to initiate action against app-based autorickshaw aggregators for overcharging. The minister had directed transport officers to draft and develop an effective action plan, which may include permit cancellation and criminal cases against offending autorickshaw drivers. The highest number of violations was recorded in the Bangalore South division, where 48 autorickshaws were booked and 18 vehicles were seized. Bangalore West followed with 36 cases and 13 vehicles impounded, while Bangalore Central and East each reported 30 violations. Electronic City and Bangalore North reported 26 and 25 cases, respectively. Areas such as Jnana Bharathi, Yelahanka, K R Puram, Chandapur, and Devanahalli were also covered in the drive. A transport department officer said, 'Cases were registered not just for overcharging, but also for lack of fitness certificate, driving licence, and other documentation. A detailed report has been sought from the respective RTOs, based on which we will take suitable action against aggregator platforms.' Meanwhile, the Karnataka High Court in 2022 granted interim protection to aggregator platforms, including Uber, Ola, and Rapido, restraining the state government from taking any coercive action against them. The relief comes in connection with a case challenging the legality of operating autorickshaws under licences originally issued for cab services. The court's order allows the platforms to continue operations for the time being, while the matter remains under judicial consideration. However, the transport department has clarified that action is being taken only against fare violations and other existing offences, which are now being enforced. The crackdown also comes after app-based autorickshaw aggregators hiked the fares in the wake of the ban on bike taxis on June 16. According to the autorickshaw fare revision in December 2021, the government set a fare of Rs 30 for the first 2 kilometres and Rs 15 for every subsequent kilometre. In 2022, the Karnataka High Court capped aggregator commissions at 10 per cent to ensure that fares remain affordable and transparent. As per the court's October 2022 ruling, app-based autorickshaw aggregators are allowed to charge only 10 per cent above the government-notified fare, plus 5 per cent Goods and Services Tax (GST). App-based autorickshaw services such as Ola, Uber, and Rapido have faced criticism for non-compliance, often charging fares that exceed Rs 70 for short rides (e.g., 1.5 km) due to additional charges like surge pricing, congestion fees, pickup fees or optional tips. Sanath Prasad is a senior sub-editor and reporter with the Bengaluru bureau of Indian Express. He covers education, transport, infrastructure and trends and issues integral to Bengaluru. He holds more than two years of reporting experience in Karnataka. His major works include the impact of Hijab ban on Muslim girls in Karnataka, tracing the lives of the victims of Kerala cannibalism, exploring the trends in dairy market of Karnataka in the aftermath of Amul-Nandini controversy, and Karnataka State Elections among others. If he is not writing, he keeps himself engaged with badminton, swimming, and loves exploring. ... Read More
Deccan Herald
2 days ago
- Deccan Herald
Crackdown on Bengaluru autos: 98 vehicles seized, 260 cases filed for overcharging, violations
Bengaluru: In a sweeping crackdown on auto-rickshaws fleecing passengers, transport authorities in Bengaluru seized at least 98 three-wheelers on Monday for violating permit conditions. A total of 260 cases were filed against auto drivers for such offences as overcharging, operating without valid fitness and insurance certificates and other violations. Two teams from each of the city's 11 Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) began the drive at 8 am, checking both street-hailed autos and those affiliated to online aggregators. The department took action two days after Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy asked it to rein in errant auto drivers. Demanding excess fares is "daylight robbery" and must be dealt with sternly, he had stated in his June 28 letter to the Commissioner for Transport and Road Safety. .Drivers' welfare trust: Namma Yatri to contribute 2% of platform's annual revenue .Since the government banned bike taxis on June 16, passengers have complained that auto rides have become both expensive and scarce. Online auto rides are 20-30 per cent costlier than the meter fair, which is Rs 30 for the first 1.9 km and Rs 15 for every subsequent kilometre. Reddy's letter mentioned that on June 18, an auto on the Rapido app charged Rs 100.89 per km, while an auto on another app cost around Rs 184.19 for a 4-km taxi ban in Karnataka: Riders hold hunger protest, write open letter to CM May 27, 2024, the High Court of Karnataka upheld a 2022 notification of the Transport Department capping online service charge at 5 per cent plus taxes. It also barred firms from imposing surge pricing, stating that any such charges should benefit the permit holder/driver — not the aggregator. Reddy stressed that ride-hailing firms overcharging passengers cannot be allowed to get away. "They're free to operate but we just cannot tolerate passengers being charged two to three times the official fare," he told DH, adding that the crackdown would continue. A M Shobha, Joint Commissioner for Transport (Bengaluru Urban), said overcharging passengers was a violation of the permit conditions and would attract a penalty of Rs 3,000 to Rs 5,000. "Three successive violations will result in permit cancellation," she told this newspaper. Some of the seized autos were also found operating without mandatory documents like fitness certificates (FCs) and insurance certificates, the official added. Drivers can pay the fines at their respective RTOs and reclaim their vehicles, she added. Shobha said that further "appropriate" action against online aggregators would be taken by the State Transport Authority (STA). A senior department official said that while the high court had upheld the 2022 notification, it had permitted online aggregators to offer auto rides under the Karnataka On-Demand Transportation Technology Aggregators Rules, 2016. "We've challenged this before the division bench because those rules apply only to four-wheelers. App-based autos need a separate three-wheeler licence," the official said. The next hearing is scheduled for July 2. M Manjunath of the Bengaluru Auto Driver Unions' Federation welcomed the crackdown, calling it "long overdue". "It was becoming unbearable. Most drivers were refusing street rides because apps were giving them higher fares," he said. However, Raghu Narayan Gowda of the Peace Auto Union said it was "unfair" to punish auto drivers. "The fare is set by the app, the driver has no control over it. We complained to the transport authorities and asked for a meeting with aggregator representatives," he said. Anatomy of a crackdownAutos seized: 98Bengaluru Central RTO: 19South: 18Jnanabharathi: 16West: 13Electronics City: 8East, Yelahanka, KR Puram: 5 eachChandapura: 4North: 4Devanahalli ARTO: 2Cases registered: 260Bengaluru South RTO: 48West: 36Central & East: 30 eachElectronics City: 26North: 25KR Puram: 19Jnanabharathi: 18Yelahanka & Chandapura: 11 eachDevanahalli ARTO: 6Violations and finesPermit conditions: Rs 3,000-5,000 fine and vehicle seizure Excess fare: Rs 500Fitness Certificate: Rs 3,000Insurance certificate: Vehicle seizure
Time of India
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
Vehicle speed governors code issue now resolved
A senior official from the transport commissioner's office on Saturday said all Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) in Mumbai have the new UIN ( unique identification number ) data for speed governors for commercial vehicles . The same is being updated on the Vahan portal to ensure that annual passing (fitness tests) are carried out smoothly. He was responding to allegations made by city cabbies that due to "high costs" and "harassment" involved in upgrading the speed governor UIN code from 5 digits to 16 digits, there were delays in fitness tests of taxis. TOI reported about commercial vehicle owners, including taxis, approaching the transport department with complaints in the past. The ministry of road transport and highways has instructed manufacturers to modify all codes to 16 digits without charging fees. "Any demand for money or harassment, transporters or bus operators can approach and complain to the transport commissioner," the official from the state transport commissioner's office added.
Scoop
24-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
TAFE Queensland And OneAdvanced Expand BKSB Offering To Support New Digital Literacy Standards
Press Release – OneAdvanced With the revised standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) set to take effect from 1 July 2025, sector-focused SaaS software company, OneAdvanced, has expanded its offering via its Australia distributor, TAFE Queensland, to help RTOs across Australia seamlessly meet the new digital literacy assessment regulations. The Basic Key Skills Builder (BKSB) platform is a trusted tool that is used by education institutes across Australia to assess English and maths proficiency before course enrolment. This latest launch builds on that foundation by introducing a new Digital Literacy Assessment within this platform that supports compliance with the new standards. Under the new requirements, RTOs must assess students' digital literacy before enrolment to ensure they possess the foundational skills needed to succeed in modern learning and workplace environments. The BKSB Digital Literacy Assessment provides a compliant, scalable, and easy-to-implement solution to support this. TAFE Queensland and OneAdvanced invite RTOs nationwide to prepare now, ensuring a smooth transition that will maximise student success in the digital age. BKSB is among the few Australian government-approved Language, Literacy and Numeracy (LLN) assessment tools. BKSB assessments are mapped to the Australian Core Skills Framework (ACSF) and help determine an individual's English and maths levels. This platform provides a streamlined, scalable and compliant method for assessing students' digital capabilities, identifying skill gaps and supporting targeted interventions. Brent Kinnane, General Manager at TAFE Queensland, Brisbane, emphasised the importance of proactive student preparation: 'Digital literacy is no longer optional; it's essential. Our partnership with OneAdvanced allows RTOs to meet the upcoming standards confidently. Through the BKSB platform, we offer a robust solution that ensures compliance and actively enhances student readiness and success.' The new standards call for enhanced digital skills among trainers and educators, ensuring they can effectively support students in digital learning environments. Digital literacy must now be thoroughly embedded within vocational training programs, aligning with current industry expectations. The outcome will be adaptive and inclusive learning strategies catering to diverse student capabilities. Adam Bowles, Country Director for Australia and New Zealand at OneAdvanced, said, 'This is more than compliance; it's about future-proofing vocational education. Digital literacy directly impacts student engagement, completion rates and employability. Our BKSB solution empowers RTOs to quickly and accurately identify digital skill levels, enabling educators to deliver targeted support from day one.' Through BKSB's Digital Literacy Module, educators receive automated, actionable insights, significantly reducing administrative workloads. The module prioritises inclusivity, ensuring each student receives tailored support irrespective of their initial digital proficiency. To ensure smooth compliance with the 2025 RTO Standards, RTOs are encouraged to review enrolment processes and integrate digital literacy screening, train educators in digital competency frameworks and leverage a digital assessment tool like BKSB. 'By proactively embracing these changes, RTOs can significantly improve student outcomes, satisfaction and workplace readiness,' concluded Adam Bowles. About TAFE Queensland TAFE Queensland is proud to be the state's largest and most experienced training provider. For over 140 years, TAFE Queensland has been delivering practical and industry-relevant training to provide students with the skills and experience they need to build lifelong careers. We deliver training to students and apprentices on-site, online, in the workplace, or on campus to give people the skills they need to enrich their communities, support their industries, and strengthen their local economies. From entry-level certificates and apprenticeships to bachelor's degrees, we deliver hands-on, practical training across almost 500 qualifications at more than 60 campus locations throughout Queensland, from Thursday Island in the North to Coolangatta in the Southeast and as far west as Mount Isa. Visit to find out more. About OneAdvanced OneAdvanced is a leading provider of sector-focused software headquartered in Birmingham, UK, and has a multi-city presence across Australia and New Zealand, including Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Auckland and Wellington. Its mission is to power the world of work through software that effortlessly gets the job done for its customers, giving them the freedom to focus on thriving for their customers, their people and the wider society. The company has expanded through organic and acquisitive growth, significantly growing its sector expertise and offerings. Customers trust OneAdvanced to deliver smart digitalisation through innovative, powerful technology and composable workflows that solve real business problems and provide intelligent insight. Its years of sector knowledge mean it is a strategic ally to its customers, and in turn, its technology touches the lives of millions of people every day. ANZ customers include NSW Health, Dunedin City Council, University of Queensland, University of Melbourne, Silk Contract Logistics and Iron Mountain, and its major UK customers include Virgin Money, Care England and the NHS. See:
