Uber has resumed services in New Delhi. The app-based taxi service was barred from operating in the Indian capital in December after a woman alleged she was raped by a driver after she booked a cab using the Uber app.
In a statement released today, Uber said it would introduce additional safety measures including more stringent driver checks, an in-app emergency button, and a dedicated incident response team.
“Our commitment to make transportation safe in Indian cities has never been more absolute,” Uber said in the statement.
In a change to its business model, the company also said that it had applied to become a licensed radio taxi operator in the city. The company previously told Tech in Asia that “Uber is not a radio taxi company, therefore the transport department’s amendments to the radio taxi scheme do not help us serve our riders and partner drivers in Delhi.”
This change could be seen as Uber cooperating with the authorities. Delhi’s Transport Department has listed out specifications which includes fitting GPS-based tracking devices in the vehicles, while the drivers are required to get transport department badges, which will be displayed prominently along with photographs just like in regular taxis.
Uber has witnessed phenomenal growth in India. It has spread to 11 cities and has launched more affordable services like UberX and UberGo. India is Uber’s largest market outside the US and with the potential for growth in a large country with a massive population and abysmal urban public transport, they would not want to miss out on the action.
The rape incident triggered protests and reignited debate about the safety of women in India, especially in New Delhi. Public outrage was further fueled after Uber acknowledged that it did not carry out criminal background checks on drivers in India, while the authorities revealed the suspect was on bail for sexual assault.
The US company has been dogged by clashes with governments around the world and concerns about safety.
Editing by Paul Bischoff
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