Officers of the street transport workplaces throughout Bengaluru seized 103 bike taxis on Monday for working regardless of the Karnataka Excessive Courtroom’s directive to droop operations within the state.
The transport division officers have additionally booked the riders of the 103 bike taxis throughout RTO divisions within the central, west, south, north, east, Digital Metropolis, and KR Puram, amongst others.
In response to RTO officers, the riders have been fined Rs 5,000 for working bike taxis with out permission and moreover for inadequate documentation.
“We now have seized their autos and fined them for working with out permission, in keeping with the excessive court docket’s directive. Following the fee of the high quality quantity, we’ll launch the car after two days,” mentioned an RTO official.
The crackdown comes after the excessive court docket on April 2 ordered all bike taxi operators, together with Rapido, Uber and Ola, to droop their operations, pending the formation of guidelines beneath part 93 of the Motor Autos Act by the state authorities.
The deadline to wind down operation is Monday (June 16), set after the aggregators sought further 4 weeks, modifying a single-bench order that had granted them six weeks to droop operations.
The ban got here after a division bench of the excessive court docket refused to remain the April 2 single-bench order that directed all bike taxi operators to droop operations inside six weeks. Performing Chief Justice Kameswar Rao noticed that an interim reduction might have been given to aggregators, supplied the state authorities thought-about drafting a motorcycle taxi coverage. “Nevertheless, on this case, the state authorities has clearly made a coverage choice (of not being to border a motorcycle taxi coverage),” he famous.
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Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy has emphasised that the state authorities just isn’t inclined in direction of drafting a motorcycle taxi coverage and that white-board two wheelers can’t be used for business functions.
Nevertheless, Rapido and Uber continued to supply courier companies by means of bikes, which ultimately additionally drew criticism. Bangalore Central MP P C Mohan wrote on X, “Karnataka Excessive Courtroom has banned bike taxis. However aggregators proceed to function beneath the guise of ‘Bike Parcel’. Residents are actually being diminished to mere parcels on this authorized evasion. Karnataka Authorities has didn’t implement the legislation. Are aggregators above the legislation?”
He added, “This isn’t about supporting or opposing bike taxis. It’s about upholding the legislation. No aggregator can flout Karnataka Excessive Courtroom orders beneath the guise of “Bike Parcel” or “Moto Courier”. This isn’t innovation, it’s contempt of court docket and a problem to judicial authority.”
In the meantime, all three main aggregator platforms–Rapido, Uber and Ola–eliminated the bike taxi characteristic from their apps on Monday, in keeping with the excessive court docket’s order.
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Uber’s spokesperson mentioned in a press assertion, “Uber has taken the tough choice to droop bike taxi operations in Karnataka from June 16 following an order from the Hon’ble Excessive Courtroom. This can negatively influence the various 1000’s of riders who depend on bike taxis for his or her each day mobility wants, in addition to the various 1000’s of drivers who depend on the service for his or her livelihood. We are going to proceed participating with the Authorities of Karnataka to assist form a progressive coverage framework that permits protected, accessible, and reasonably priced mobility choices for everybody.”
In a notification to its clients, Rapido mentioned on the app, “Beginning June 16, 2025, our Bike Taxi companies in Karnataka can be paused in compliance with current Excessive Courtroom orders.
Whereas we deeply consider within the worth bike taxis deliver to each day commuters, we respect the legislation and can absolutely abide by the directive. We stay dedicated to the communities we serve and looking forward to a future the place handy, reasonably priced mobility is accessible to all.
We’re navigating the way in which ahead with the federal government to deliver your favorite bike taxis again on the street quickly.”
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Bike taxi associations additionally gave a illustration to BJP MLA Ravi Subramanya searching for pressing reduction from the suspension of motorcycle taxis. The drivers demanded clear guidelines on licensing, insurance coverage, and security somewhat than being criminalised in a single day.
“We’re a part of the identical casual financial system that Karnataka claims to assist. Why are we being shut out with no dialog?” requested Mohammed Salim, president of the Namma Bike Taxi Affiliation.
In the meantime, Shaik Salauddin, Nationwide Common Secretary of the Indian Federation of App-Primarily based Transport Employees (IFAT) and the Telangana Gig and Platform Employees’ Union (TGPWU), and Inayath Ali, president of the Karnataka App-Primarily based Employees’ Union, have welcomed the excessive court docket’s choice declining a keep on the single-judge order that held bike taxis can not function within the state until related guidelines are framed.
Shaik Salauddin mentioned, “We respect the Karnataka Excessive Courtroom’s order. It underscores the need for a transparent authorized framework for bike taxis and highlights the continued violation of laws by firms like Ola, Uber, and Rapido. These firms have been dishonest employees by ignoring the foundations and placing their livelihoods in danger.”
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Salauddin demanded strict motion towards the aggregator firms for non-compliance and referred to as on the transport division to promptly subject clear tips and conduct particular camps to transform non-public two-wheelers into business autos. “This can assist employees function legally and safeguard their earnings and future,” he mentioned.
Inayath Ali mentioned, “We welcome this order because it protects the livelihoods of cab and auto drivers who lose their earnings attributable to unfair competitors. If bike taxis are allowed in future, they need to be permitted solely with yellow quantity plate (business car) registration and correct oversight by the authorities.”