The Karnataka Government has imposed a ban on the operation of electric bike taxi services in the state, citing safety concerns for women and violations of the Motor Vehicles Act. The decision comes as a response to private app-based firms operating two-wheelers illegally as transport vehicles, leading to clashes with auto rickshaws and maxi cabs.

The government order specifically mentions the withdrawal of the 2021 Karnataka Electric Bike Taxi Scheme, which permitted the operation of these services. The scheme was found to create challenges in tax collection for the transport department and posed difficulties in maintaining law and order, particularly concerning the safety of women passengers.

President of the Ola Uber Drivers and Owners Association, Tanveer Pasha, welcomed the government’s decision, highlighting that the permission for electric bike taxis in Bengaluru was granted by the BJP government in 2021 despite opposition. Pasha emphasized the adverse impact of this permission on the livelihoods of auto and taxi drivers and expressed gratitude for the government’s reconsideration.

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