Draft aggregator policy: Ola, Uber, others to benefit as Delhi relaxes rules for electrification

The latest draft is an
updated version of the one issued in January after consulting with various stakeholders and companies.

The previous draft broadly identified tech companies such as Ola, Uber, Swiggy,

, Amazon and Flipkart as aggregators and the rules were the same for all.

In the new draft, rules are broadly classified under three separate headings – last-mile delivery aggregators, passenger transport aggregators, and e-commerce entities.

The rules for electrification have also been relaxed.

In the previous draft, 25% of all new vehicles added to the four-wheeler fleet were to be made electric within a year. The new draft has extended that to two years and to transition the entire fleet of vehicles operated by aggregators to 100% electric by 2030.

Discover the stories of your interest

The rules will apply to all tech companies aggregating more than 25 vehicles but will exclude buses.

The policy focuses on electrification, bringing transparency in pricing and access to data —such as the number of drivers, the quality of vehicles, drivers’ ratings, and movement — to the government and ensuring adequate customer care service is in place.

In ride-hailing, for example, if the driver’s rating is less than 3.5 for one year, Ola and Uber should take “remedial training and corrective measures to rectify the issue”, it says.

Cab aggregators should also establish a 24-hour control and command centre in Delhi.

The aggregators should also provide quarterly reports on driver ratings and grievances received against them to the transport department.

The draft has been prepared using the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways in 2020.

The state government has tweaked the policy to suit the needs of Delhi and has added rules regarding electrification. Successful implementation of the policy could set a precedent for other states to chart out similar policies.

The state government has given 21 days’ time for public feedback.

The draft was prepared by the transport department in consultation with 40 companies, including Ola, Uber, Flipkart, Amazon, BluSmart, Bounce, and Ninjacart.

All the aggregators will be given a licence to operate in the region.

“This draft has been prepared after a series of industry consultations,” said Ashish Kundra, principal secretary, Department of Transportation, GNCT Delhi. “So, this is the final draft before we notify the scheme under the Delhi motor vehicles Act. Next, we incorporate the suggestions that we receive, which will take another two weeks after the feedback is in, and we will put it up for approval with the lieutenant governor.”