Bengaluru: Auto and cab drivers in Bengaluru staged a large protest on Thursday to demand action against illegal bike taxis operating in the city. They also urged the state transport department to quickly implement a uniform fare system for cabs across the city.
According to a report by Money Control, the Karnataka transport department has decided to crack down on unauthorized bike taxis in Bengaluru. Special teams from all Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) have been instructed to take action against these illegal operations.
Nataraj Sharma, president of the Federation of Karnataka State Private Transport Corporation Association, stated, “The transport department has promised action against bike taxis. We have also put forth other demands such as school bus permits and special online permits for drivers.”
Recently, the Karnataka High Court directed the state government to protect bike taxi drivers following several incidents of attacks against them. Companies like Uber, Ola, and Rapido are among those operating bike taxis in Bengaluru.
Earlier, auto drivers in Bengaluru had requested the Karnataka transport department to revise the fixed government fares for auto rides in the city. The union believes that updating the fare list will help reduce ride cancellations and refusals.
Additionally, auto unions had previously urged the government to extend the Shakti scheme to auto drivers, as they have been facing financial losses since the introduction of free bus rides for women in the state.