LUCKNOW: A change in rules will now allow an individual to get a permit for operating a bike taxi in Uttar Pradesh.Till now, bike operators had to be associated with a cab aggregator such as Uber or Ola though the permit was being issued in the individual's name. Now, there will be no need for such an association.This means that a single person or groups wanting to operate a bike taxi service can now do so officially. However, the transport department will not take any responsibility for any kind of violation of the permit, including criminal activity on the part of the permit holder related to the operation of the bike taxi."A person wishing to apply for a permit will need to submit, among other documents, a character certificate issued by the local police station. If there is subsequently any law and order problem, it will be for the police to handle it. Our role is only to ensure that conditions for issue of permit are met and to allow a person to operate a bike as a taxi," said regional transport officer Ashok Kumar Singh.The permit can be cancelled only by the regional transport officer if the police recommend it or if the driver has been a repeat offender in violating traffic rules, he added.Bike taxis are being operated in Lucknow, Noida, Kanpur and Varanasi at present. More than 200 permits have already been issued, all to operators working with the two major cab aggregators.The government will release another 100 permits by next week for which one can submit applications online."These permits will be issued on a first come, first served basis. They will be transferable to family members of the original applicant and will not expire. However, they cannot be sold," Singh said.

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