India, July 15 -- In a major clampdown on app-based bus services, the Maharashtra transport department has collected nearly Rs.12 lakh in fines over the past five days from operators like CityFlo and Uber for running unlicensed shuttle buses. The drive, led by various Regional Transport Offices (RTOs), resulted in over 125 buses being seized for permit violations.

The action comes close on the heels of transport minister Pratap Sarnaik's public warning against these operators. Sarnaik had slammed senior RTO officials for inaction and ordered an immediate crackdown on services operating without mandatory licences. Following the enforcement drive that began on July 12, Uber abruptly discontinued its luxury bus service-Uber Shuttle-which it...