Bike Taxis In Bengaluru Under Transport Dept’s Lens After Protests By Auto, Cab Drivers

A day after scores of autorickshaw and cab drivers staged a protest in Bengaluru, seeking action against unauthorised bike taxis, the Karnataka transport department on Friday (July 5) issued an order to conduct a special enforcement drive against on these services.

The autorickshaw and cab drivers laid siege to the transport department’s head office in Shanti Nagar area, protesting against bike taxis and implementing a ‘one city, one cab fare’, Moneycontrol reported.

Following Thursday’s protest, additional commissioner for transport (Enforcement-South), C Mallikarjuna, issued an order, directing all regional transport offices (RTOs) in Bengaluru to form special investigation teams to crack down on unauthorised bike taxis, including electric bike taxis.

“Our major demands include action against illegal bike taxis, implementation of ‘one city, one cab fare,’ and action against Porter company which is forcing goods vehicle owners to display advertisements on vehicles. We also demanded that the transport department issue school bus permits and online special permits. The department has assured us of action against bike taxis from July 5,” said S Nataraj Sharma, president of Federation of Karnataka State Private Transport Associations.

Sharma claimed that over 1,000 members from 32 unions participated in the protest. 

Not to mention, cab drivers have been demanding a uniform fare structure for all cabs, including Ola and Uber-operated ones, by categorising vehicles into three classes based on the cost of the vehicle. 

Earlier in February, the Karnataka government introduced uniform fares for cabs operating under aggregator rules by firms like Ola and Uber, as well as for city taxis (non-app-based city taxis).

This comes against the Karnataka HC’s directive in April asking the Karnataka government to protect bike taxi operators against individuals or entities attempting to unlawfully obstruct bike taxi riders from carrying out their services.

It is pertinent to note that after massive protests from auto-rickshaw unions against Rapido bike taxis and other unauthorised illegal e-bike taxi services in March, the Karnataka government withdrew the Electric Bike Taxi Scheme of 2021, citing its blatant misuse.

Under the policy, organisations or individuals can register their two-wheelers as taxis. Besides, companies operating such bike taxis will have to provide insurance coverage for the riders and the owner.

While Rapido and Uber operate petrol-run bike taxis, Ola operates electric bike taxis in Bengaluru. 

Notably, Ola cofounder, Bhavish Aggarwal relaunched Ola Bike, its motorcycle taxi service, in Bengaluru last year saying that the service would exclusively use electric scooters made by Ola Electric this time. However, the company has yet to apply for a license.

The development comes at the heart of challenges being faced by bike taxis in Bengaluru for a very long time now. Moreover, there have been frequent clashes between auto drivers and bike taxi operators. Last year, auto drivers protested blocking some bike taxis and even assaulting the riders. 

In the past, the state police had imposed penalties on drivers and confiscated bikes in the absence of a clear-cut policy for bike taxis. 

States in the likes of Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, and Goa, have already permitted bike taxis. Goa, in particular, has had bike taxis, locally known as pilots, for many years.