India's capital rejects new Uber licence bid

New Delhi authorities on Wednesday rejected fresh licence applications by US-based Uber and two of its rivals to operate in India's capital, in another blow for the company. Indian police on Tuesday arrested an Uber driver for sexual harassment after a complaint from a female passenger, raising fresh concerns over the safety of the taxi service. "(The cab companies) were asked to provide details like number of vehicles and addresses of their drivers to ensure regularisation of their service but they didn't comply with it," Delhi transport minister Gopal Rai said, the Press Trust of India reported. The report added that the companies had also failed to give an affidavit confirming their compliance with the earlier ban order. The New Delhi city government had banned Uber after the alleged rape of a young woman by one of its drivers. It was accused of failing to conduct adequate background checks. It was subsequently ordered off Delhi's roads, but resumed services after applying for a new licence to operate as a radio taxi service. Uber, which connects passengers to drivers through a smartphone app, has expanded rapidly in recent years but has also faced hurdles from regulators in many locations and protests from traditional taxi services.