The company is expected to appeal Transport for London’s decision to refuse it a new private hire vehicle operator’s licence, which came as the firm’s previous 15 month licence expired earlier this month.

This follows a court ruling at the end of September that saw rival taxi firm Uber regain its licence to operate in the capital after it was suspended by TfL last November.

Commenting on the Ola decision TfL’s director of licencing regulation and charging Helen Chapman said: “Our duty as a regulator is to ensure passenger safety. Through our investigations we discovered that flaws in Ola's operating model have led to the use of unlicensed drivers and vehicles in more than 1000 passenger trips, which may have put passenger safety at risk.”

She added: “If they do appeal, Ola can continue to operate and drivers can continue to undertake bookings on behalf of Ola. We will closely scrutinise the company to ensure passengers safety is not compromised.”

The ride hailing firm is also accused of failing to draw its breaches to TfL’s attention immediately when they were first identified by the firm.

Reinstatement of Uber’s licence came after Westminster Magistrates’ Court deputy chief magistrate Tan Ikram ruled that, despite historical failings, the company has shown an ‘improving picture’ and is now ‘fit and proper’ to hold a licence.

(Photograph: Seeshooteatrepeat - Shutterstock)