The government has once again warned against the use of ride-sharing services.

Issuing a notice yesterday, the Department of Transport Management (DoTM) under the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport said vehicles that have not been registered as public vehicles will not be allowed to carry public in exchange for money.

As per the notice, carrying passengers in private vehicles and charging money from people would go against the Motor Vehicles and Transport Management Act, 2049 BS, which states that vehicles registered for one purpose cannot be used for another.

Moreover, the Department says that strict monitoring would be carried to check such services and action will be initiated against those who fail to comply with the law.

The notice also states that ride-sharing vehicles not registered as public transport have been charging people “as per their desire”.

Earlier, the Patan High Court had directed the government to regulate ride-sharing service providers like Tootle and Pathao by introducing necessary policies.

In February, the court issued an order to DoTM, Traffic Police, and other concerned government agencies to bring in effective legislation to regulate such services instead of discouraging them.

On a writ filed by different taxi operators against Tootle and Pathao, the Patan High Court, last year, refused to issue an interim order to stop these transportation services.

DoTM, in November 2019, had issued a notice and declared Tootle and Pathao illegal. Following this, the Traffic Police had started to crack down on them.

However, DoTM stepped back from its earlier decision to ban ride-sharing services citing the public sentiment attached to it, until it decided to do the same yet again.