BPO Sector Lose At $1 Billion Loss On Diesel Cab Ban: NASSCOM

New Delhi: On Wednesday, industry body  National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM) said that India’s business process management or BPO sector will suffer a potential loss of $1 billion if the ban on diesel taxis in the Delhi-NCR continues for another 2-3 weeks.NASSCOM, which is seeking a delay in implementation of the ban, also plans to approach the Supreme Court in the next couple of days regarding the matter.

NASSCOM representatives have already met Delhi Police and various central ministries, including the Ministry of Information Technology, and discussed the issues facing the industry in the wake of the ban on diesel cabs in the Delhi-NCR, resulting in non-availability of reliable transport options.
In an end to the road for diesel taxis in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR), the Supreme Court last week refused to extend the April 30 deadline fixed for their conversion into a less-polluting CNG mode.
The ban on diesel taxis in the region has brought the BPM (formerly BPO) industry almost to a standstill. The BPM industry in the NCR provides direct and indirect employment to over 1 million people.

An emergency meeting was also called by NASSCOM on Wednesday. It was attended by all players of BPM industry and issue of implementation of the ban was discussed.

The industry is largely youth dominated and contributes over $25 billion — with the NCR being a major hub — to operations by big companies. On an average, 60-65 per cent employees reside within Delhi and need to reach their offices in Gurgaon and Noida where the industry is located.

NASSCOM further said that many cases of harassment have been reported, with vehicles being stopped, challaned and delayed for a significant period of time in last two days.

The industry body is seeking a deferred timeline for the movement from diesel to CNG or phased implementation as per the Delhi government’s plan, exemption for employees to be picked up and dropped home during the night shift and specify the permit needed by the cabs of IT/BPM industry.