AURANGABAD: Regional Transport Office (RTO) of Aurangabad has detained a few two-wheelers for offering transport services as part of a popular mobile app-based service.However, on Monday TOI discovered that the bike taxi service is operational in the city despite the crackdown by the RTO.The app has around one million users across the country. RTO authorities said the firm does not have permit to ferry passengers in Maharashtra . However, the crackdown, has evoked sharp reactions among tourists, who demand such services on the lines of the ones operating in Goa.Aurangabad Regional Transport officer S J Sadamate said that the crackdown was carried out by his staff by posing as fake customers.Sadamate said, "The private firm needs to obtain permits for engaging in transportation services. Ferrying customers without such permits is illegal as per existing rules and regulations in Maharashtra."When told that the service continues to be operational despite the crackdown, authorities said the drive against such illegal services will be intensified.RTO officials added that app-based taxi or rickshaw services usually rope in drivers who have vehicles with registered permits. Hence, they do not need to complete any formalities at the RTO level.The bike taxi service under the scanner claims to operate in 16 cities in India. The service claims to be changing the face of intra-city travel by providing last-mile connectivity at affordable fares. The website of the service claims to insure every ride it offers and also provides helmets to riders as a safety measure.Batting in favour of the app-based two-wheeler service Jaswant Singh , president of Tourism Promoters Guild, said RTO authorities should not unnecessarily raise hue and cry over formalities.Singh said, "If any transporter ensures the safety of passengers, authorities should not cite technical issues for giving clearance to the transportation service. Offering insurance cover to passengers and hiring skilled, reliable drivers are two important pre-requisites that authorities should consider."Ajay Kulkarni, convener of the Aurangabad chapter of Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) said the private firm in question should complete necessary compliance with RTO norms.He said, "There is no harm in showing compliance with the law of the land. Having such compliance will further increase the popularity of the service, especially among foreign tourists."An e-mail sent to the app-based two-wheeler service did not receive any response till Monday evening.

Stay updated with all the Latest Aurangabad headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.