Commuters in Chandigarh now face a major transport crisis. All four major app-based cab aggregators — Ola, Uber, Rapido, and InDrive — stand barred from operating in the Union Territory. The UT State Transport Authority (STA) suspended the licences of Uber and Rapido on Tuesday, completing a full shutdown of app-based cab services that began months ago.
Ola was suspended on June 17, while InDrive was suspended on August 10. With the latest action against Uber and Rapido, no major cab aggregator remains operational in Chandigarh. Only Bharat Taxi, run by Sahkari Taxi Cooperative Limited, remains functional for commuters.
Timeline of cab aggregator suspensions in Chandigarh
The STA issued four separate orders over three months, suspending every major cab aggregator operating in the UT for six months each. Here is the complete breakdown of the suspensions:
- Ola (ANI Technologies Pvt Ltd): Licence suspended on June 17, 2026, till December 2026
- InDrive (Indsystems IT Private Limited): Licence suspended on August 10, 2026, till February 2027
- Uber: Licence suspended on Tuesday
- Rapido: Licence suspended on Tuesday
Each suspension lasts for six months, meaning commuters will have to wait several more months before these services can potentially return to the city.
What this means for daily commuters in Chandigarh
The suspension of all four major cab aggregators hits lakhs of daily commuters who depend on these services for their everyday travel needs. With Ola, Uber, Rapido, and InDrive all barred, the options for app-based cab travel in Chandigarh have shrunk dramatically.
Bharat Taxi, operated by Sahkari Taxi Cooperative Limited, is now the only functional cab service in the city. This means commuters who relied on the convenience and competitive pricing of app-based aggregators will now have to adjust to a market with limited choices.
The situation raises practical concerns for residents. Commuters who regularly use these apps for airport transfers, daily office commutes, or short trips within the city will need to find alternatives. The reduced competition could also impact pricing and availability of cabs in the region.
Our Take: A difficult period for Chandigarh commuters
To put it plainly, this is a challenging situation for people who depend on app-based cab services in Chandigarh. The suspension of all four major aggregators in such a short span leaves commuters with very few choices, and the absence of competition rarely benefits the consumer.
While the STA has clearly found reasons to take action against these companies, the timing and the cumulative impact on daily commuters cannot be ignored. When every major player is suspended at once, the people who suffer most are ordinary passengers who simply need reliable transport.
For now, commuters should plan their travel keeping in mind that Bharat Taxi is the only functional option. Those who regularly used Ola, Uber, Rapido, or InDrive should explore alternative transport arrangements until the suspension period ends. The coming months will test how well Chandigarh's transport ecosystem copes without its major app-based cab services.
