Mangaluru : The department of transport has issued a notice to taxi aggregator Ola, for “soliciting customers without obtaining licence”.

The department also booked cases against three cabs for displaying advertisements, said Deputy Commissioner of Transport and Senior Regional Transport Officer Afzal Ahmed Khan.

Under Section 93 of the Motor Vehicles Act, anyone acting as an agent or canvasser, in the sale of tickets for travel by public service vehicles or in otherwise soliciting customers for such vehicles or as a common carrier, has to obtain required licence from the department. Apparently, Ola does not have any such licence and hence the notice has been issued.

Traditional taxi operators in the district are up in arms against taxi aggregators’ entry, alleging that it was a ploy to monopolise the industry. The Dakshina Kannada District Taximen and Maxicab Association has been protesting Ola’s entry and had objected to its operations to the airport.

The association has decided to take up the matter in the Regional Transport Authority meeting. The meeting is scheduled for March 30, Monday.