Delhi government bans all unregistered Internet taxi firms after Uber rape case

New Delhi: Delhi government has banned all unregistered Internet-based taxi firms after a female passenger reported she was raped by a driver contracted to US online cab company Uber.

The Delhi transport department issued an order late on Monday that only six registered radio taxi companies are allowed to operate in the area.

"All other transport/ taxi service providers through web-based technology, who are not recognised, are prohibited from providing such services," said the order, which could not immediately be confirmed.

Delhi government came out with a notification that said only six cab services - Easy Cab, Mega Cab, Meru Cab, Chanson Cab, Yo Cab and Air Cab - had the licence to operate radio taxis. The notification was issued soon after Uber had been banned.

Online ride-hailing service Uber was blacklisted in New Delhi on Monday after police said it had failed to run background checks on the driver, who was arrested three years ago in a similar case but later acquitted.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh may issue a statement in Parliament calling on states and union territories to ban Uber.

The company operates in around 10 Indian cities. Uber did not respond to an email request from Reuters on Monday for comment on the ban against it in New Delhi.