Karnataka lifts ban on Ola

The Karnataka Government on Sunday lifted its six-month suspension order on cab aggregator Ola just two days after the State Transport Department suspended its licence for allegedly running an illegal bike-taxi service. The suspension order was lifted after Priyank Kharge, Karnataka Minister for Social Welfare, took the matter to Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy.

In a tweet on Sunday morning, Kharge said: “Ola cabs will run their business as usual from today.” There is an urgent need for policies to catch up with new technologies, and industries, too, should work closer with the government to help evolve policies for innovation, he added.

In response to irate citizens taking to Twitter on Friday over the ban, Kharge had responded that he had spoken to the Chief Minister and would have the matter resolved by Saturday.