📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Joydeep
Automobile
West Bengal clamps down on unlicensed private vehicles posing as app‑cabs
✍️ The Hawk
🗓 11 Nov 2026, 03:48 PM
👁 9
The West Bengal transport department has launched an enforcement drive targeting private cars operating as app‑cabs without proper permits, issuing fines and seizing vehicles to protect passenger safety.
The transport authority in West Bengal announced a coordinated crackdown on private vehicles that are offering rides through app‑based platforms without the required commercial permits. Enforcement teams have begun spot checks across major districts, stopping vehicles that lack the appropriate registration and issuing penalties to owners.
Officials said the move is aimed at safeguarding commuters and ensuring a level playing field for licensed app‑cab operators. Unauthorised rides have raised concerns over insurance coverage, driver vetting, and fare regulation, prompting the department to act decisively.
During the initial phase of the operation, several vehicles were impounded and fines were imposed on owners who failed to produce valid permits. The department has also urged passengers to verify the legitimacy of drivers through official app listings before booking a ride.
The crackdown is expected to continue over the coming weeks, with additional inspections planned in urban and semi‑urban areas to curb the growth of unregulated app‑cab services.
Officials said the move is aimed at safeguarding commuters and ensuring a level playing field for licensed app‑cab operators. Unauthorised rides have raised concerns over insurance coverage, driver vetting, and fare regulation, prompting the department to act decisively.
During the initial phase of the operation, several vehicles were impounded and fines were imposed on owners who failed to produce valid permits. The department has also urged passengers to verify the legitimacy of drivers through official app listings before booking a ride.
The crackdown is expected to continue over the coming weeks, with additional inspections planned in urban and semi‑urban areas to curb the growth of unregulated app‑cab services.