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Ola Cabs gets aggressive in Kolkata, to add 3,500 new taxi sign-ups
KOLKATA: Indian online car rental aggregator firm Ola Cabs is looking at expanding its operations in Kolkata. The company is planning to increase its driver sign-ups in Kolkata from the current 1,500 to 5,000 in the coming three months, informs Ola Cabs head of strategic initiatives, Puneet Singh Arora.
Ola Cabs has also switched its primary payment gateway to PayU from Zaakpay as the startup competes with Uber and Meru to offer customers the facility of seamless mobile payment transactions.
Arora said that the company does not own the cars but signs-up with the drivers who are the actual owners of the cars. The company operates its services on a revenue sharing model.
It also has an auto-rickshaw rental service in seven cities.
“Nationally, we have over one lakh driver sign-ups, of which 80 per cent are cars including sedans and hatchbacks and the rest 20,000 comprises auto rickshaws,” he said.
Arora said the organised car rental market in India is still at a nascent stage and comprises only 10 per cent of the car rental market.
When asked if the company is considering launching auto-rickshaw rentals in Kolkata or expand to other cities, Arora said, “We consider introducing new services based on the city’s requirements.”
The company is growing by 40 per cent on a month-on-month basis and wishes to retain the momentum, an official said.
The company also announced the extension of its ‘Ola Pragati’ program in Kolkata in association with Shriram Transport Finance Company, SBI and Mahindra Finance.
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Jubilant FoodWorks faces Rs 47.5 crore GST demand, plans appeal
Tax authorities flag alleged misclassification of restaurant services
MUMBAI: Jubilant FoodWorks Limited has landed in a tax tussle after receiving a GST demand of Rs 47.5 crore from the office of the additional commissioner of CGST and central excise in Thane, Maharashtra.
The order, issued under the provisions of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, relates to an alleged incorrect classification of certain services under the category of restaurant services. According to the tax authorities, this classification resulted in a short payment of goods and services tax for the period between the financial years 2019-20 and 2021-22.
The demand includes Rs 47.5 crore in GST along with an equal amount as penalty, in addition to applicable interest. The order was received by the company on March 13, 2026.
In a regulatory filing to the BSE Limited and the National Stock Exchange of India Limited, the company said it disagrees with the order and believes its arguments were not adequately considered.
The company is preparing to challenge the decision and plans to file an appeal. It added that once the redressal process is complete, the demand is likely to be dropped.
Despite the sizeable figure attached to the notice, the company said it does not expect any material impact on its financials, operations or other activities.
The disclosure was signed by Suman Hegde, EVP and chief financial officer, who confirmed that the company received the order at 19:06 IST on March 13 and has already initiated steps to contest it.
The development places the quick service restaurant major in the middle of a tax debate that could hinge on how certain restaurant-linked services are classified under GST rules. For now, the company appears ready to take the matter from the tax office to the appeals desk.
