India’s capital has decided to ban all internet-based taxi firms after a female passenger reported she was raped by a driver contracted to U.S. online cab company Uber, a government official said on Tuesday.
The Delhi transport department issued a public notice in a national daily stating that only six registered radio taxi companies are allowed to operate in New Delhi.
“We have banned Uber. Another public notice will be issued tomorrow for banning all non-registered cab service providers. It’s almost done,” said Kuldeep Singh Gangar, spokesman of the Delhi’s transport department.
Uber was blacklisted in New Delhi on Monday after police said it had failed to run background checks on the driver, who was arrested three years ago in a similar case but later acquitted.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh may issue a statement to parliament calling on India’s federal states and union territories to ban Uber, the Indian Express newspaper reported.
The company operates in around 10 Indian cities.
A representative for Uber said the company had not been officially notified of any ban in New Delhi and would issue a statement later on Tuesday.
It was still possible to hail an Uber taxi in the Indian capital using the company’s smartphone application on Tuesday.