Single vehicle can now be used for multiple sharing companies

If you want to use your vehicle under additional ride-sharing services, then good news -- you will now be able to do it. However, you have to pay more to avail the opportunity.

The government has brought necessary changes in the Ride Sharing Service Guideline-2017, so that a car owner can use his or her vehicle under more than one service.

Currently, one can get enlisted with only one company legally.

Although app-based ride-sharing services were launched in Dhaka in May 2015, the cabinet in January 2018 approved "Ride-Sharing Service Guideline 2017" with effect from March 8 the same year.

As per section Ka (9) of the guideline, one motor vehicle owner will be able to get enlisted with only one service providing company.

But, service providing companies demanded changes in the section from the beginning. Besides, many owners are currently providing service under additional companies, which is illegal, a BRTA official said.

"So, we have sent a proposal to the ministry last month to bring changes in the guideline," the official said, wishing not to be named.

The president gave approval to the proposal on September 3 and the road transport and bridges ministry wrote to the Form and Publication Office to issue a gazette in this regard.

After the change, a motor-vehicle owner would be allowed to provide services with only one vehicle. However, he or she would be allowed to enlist the vehicle with more than one service providing company. In that case, he or she has to pay fee for getting enlistment certificate under each of the companies separately.

According to a BRTA document, there are some 1.23 lakh cars and motorcycles associated with different ride-sharing companies. Of them, 1.04 lakh are motorcycles.

But BRTA so far allowed some 10,000 enlisted cars and motorcycles to operate under ride-sharing services, which partially resumed from June 21.