No ban on carpooling, clarifies Karnataka Transport Minister

Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], October 2 (ANI): Amid rumours of the Karnataka government reportedly banning carpooling in Bengaluru city, Karnataka Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy clarified on Monday that there is no such ban in the city.
"Carpooling is not banned, it is false news. First, let them take permission. When they have not taken the permission where is the question of banning? Everyone should follow the rules and regulations," Ramalinga Reddy said in a post on 'X'.
Reddy however pointed out that it is illegal to use "non-commercial private vehicles with white number plates" for carpooling purposes.
"It is illegal to use non-commercial private vehicles with white number plates for carpooling purposes. Commercial Vehicles with yellow number plates, can be used for carpooling by following appropriate guidelines," he added.
Reacting to the reports of the alleged ban on carpooling in Bengaluru, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Tejasvi Surya said that given traffic congestion in the city the state government should encourage the use of public transport.
"Bengaluru, like most of the other urban cities in India, faces a huge problem of traffic jams. The objective of the policymakers must be to discourage private car ownership and encourage public transport as much as possible. Carpooling is one such option where common people can come together and go to a particular destination in one vehicle, and share resources and expenses," the BJP Yuva Morcha National President said speaking at Madhya Pradesh's Chhindwara.
"This will help decongest the city, especially during the peak hours. State government should update its redundant laws and encourage the use of public transport," Surya added.
The Bengaluru South MP said the transport department is trying to enforce their policy in such a way that people will be fined Rs. 10,000 if they are carpooling.
"In Karnataka, the transport department is penalising people and is planning to enforce it in such a manner that if people use carpooling they would be fined Rs. 10,000. This is regressing and will contribute to more traffic jams. I demand the state government to relook at the policy propositions that they are making...," Surya added. (ANI)