Banning Uber not a solution, Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari says

Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari today disagreed with the decision to ban Uber cab services in Delhi in the wake of the alleged rape of a 27-year-old woman in a taxi plying under it, saying such a move could not be a solution.

“New developments are taking place in transport systems through electronics. Banning the railways for train accidents, buses for bus accidents and taxis is not correct,” Gadkari said outside Parliament House here.

The minister’s statement came a day after Delhi government banned all operations by private cab service Uber with immediate effect and blacklisted it from providing any transport service in the national capital following the alleged rape committed by a driver registered with it.

Asked specifically about Delhi government’s move, the Union minister said that state governments have the right to take a decision in such matters. “It is up to the state government to decide because the subject is in Concurrent List. State governments have equal right to take a decision about it,” he said.

Saying that new systems with modern concepts must be encouraged Gadkari, however, noted that lacunae in such systems should be plugged. Citing data that 30 per cent of driving licenses in the country were bogus, the minister said that a new system would be put in place to replace the Motor Vehicles Act.

“As per a report, 30 per cent of the driving licenses in the country are bogus… We are going to change the 1988 Motor Vehicles Act by which we will have a centre comprising all records of drivers. That would help solve the problem of accessing the accident and criminal records of drivers,” he said.

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