The Karnataka Transport Department said cab aggregators who are "illegally" providing auto-rickshaw hailing services as well as bike taxi aggregator Rapido may face action starting next week.
Senior officials in the department said cab aggregators do not have permission to hail auto rickshaw services.
"We have earlier communicated to them about the lack of licence to hail auto-rickshaws. However, considering the convenience of the travelling public, we had not taken action," an official said.
The Transport Commissioner's office has dispatched notice to Ola and Uber following complaints of overcharging.
"Companies have to respond within the three-day deadline from the date of receiving the notice. Action will be taken by the end of the next week if they fail to answer," the official added.
Sources in the department said the companies have been dodging the notices of the department by citing the ongoing legal dispute over Karnataka government's rules to regulate cab aggregators.
"The companies have not given a written reply to many of our notices. They have communicated orally that they will challenge the notices before the High Court of Karnataka. Once the matter is resolved, we can proceed to enforce the rules," a source said.
Meanwhile, officials said action against Rapido will be taken on the question of overpricing."As of now, the company has been functioning without any rules. We have been told not to initiate coercive action due to an ongoing legal dispute. However, the company will face action if it is found that they are overcharging the commuters," an official said.
To a question, a spokesperson for Rapido said none of the company's operations in Bengaluru were illegal.
"We have received a notice from the Road Transport Authority, and we will be responding to it within the stipulated time. The allegations being made regarding extra money charged by Rapido on auto taxi fares are completely false. All our fares are determined in accordance with the fares decided upon by the state government, and Rapido is not charging any extra money over those fares. Rapido will continue operating in Bengaluru under the ambit of the law. Any false allegations levied on our auto taxi services in Bengaluru are not only irrational but also inhumane, as they jeopardise the convenient daily commute of thousands of citizens, and risk the livelihoods of our captains, who rely on us for their daily income."