Traditional taxi operators up the ante

Following the Delhi Rape incident, the traditional taxi operators in Bengaluru are demanding a blanket ban on all web-based and aggregate taxi operators in the City.

Not only them, even autorickshaw drivers are up in arms against these operators and are going to stage a protest against Ola, Taxi For Sure and Uber on December 12. They will also take out a rally from Bengaluru City Railway Station to chief minister’s residence to highlight the ‘illegalities’ in the services of these operators.

Speaking with Deccan Herald, on the sidelines of the meeting held between transport commissioner, police commissioner and taxi operators here on Tuesday, Prithvi Pani, proprietor of Metro Taxi and an adviser for Bangalore Tourist Taxi Owners Association  (BTTOA), said: “Most of the aggregate taxi operators violate permit rules as they do not have City permit and only have all India permit.

Still they ply vehicles illegally in the City. For obtaining city taxi permit, these taxis have to follow a set of 25 rules as per the Motor Vehicles Act but they do not follow any of them.

So, when they are not following any rule themselves, how can they give  customers a safe ride. The government should stop all their operations immediately and should strengthen the public transport system instead of relying on these ‘fly by night’ operator companies,” he added.

As per the city taxi permit rules, each city taxi has to be connected with radio and telephone with the company's control room approved by the RTO, they should operate within a radius of 25 km of the City corporation limits, the taxi stands should be located at the areas determined by the empowered authorities, the city taxis should be fitted with approved digital electronic meters, they should be painted in yellow colour with City Taxi displayed on top of the vehicle, the driver should be wearing uniform besides other rules.