Auto drivers in Bengaluru protest, demand bike taxi ban and fare hike

The Auto-rickshaw Drivers’ Union (ARDU), backed by the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), will hold a protest at Freedom Park in Bengaluru on March 6. Their key demands include banning bike taxis and revising auto fares.

“Illegal bike taxis are affecting our earnings. Auto drivers pay taxes, renew fitness certificates, and follow regulations, while white-board bike taxis operate without any compliance,” said ARDU leader CN Srinivasan.

The union is also demanding a fare increase from ₹15 to ₹20 per km, raising the minimum auto fare from ₹30 to ₹40 for a 2 km ride. Rising LPG prices, maintenance costs, and inflation have made the current fares unsustainable, ARDU claims.

A meeting to discuss fare revision was initially planned for December 23 but postponed. Authorities will now meet stakeholders on March 12, though opinions within auto unions remain divided. Some fear higher fares could reduce ridership further.

With recent hikes in BMTC bus fares (15%) and Metro ticket prices (up to 71%), another increase could burden commuters.

ARDU also wants the state government to allocate ₹500 crore for driver welfare schemes and repeal strict penalties under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, which they say unfairly target drivers. The union is also pushing for a crackdown on Ola, Uber, and bike taxi services operating without authorization.

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