Digital services association urges Karnataka govt to speed up on bike taxi guidelines

Bengaluru: The Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI), the industry body representing digital services corporations including Zomato, Swiggy, Ola, Uber, and Rapido has urged the Karnataka government to form a joint committee on priority for the formulation of bike taxi guidelines, and allow temporary permits for safety of compliant aggregators during the policy formulation period and facilitate continued bike taxi operations. 

The Karnataka High Court on April 2, 2025 had ordered suspension of bike taxis in the state until the government notified relevant guidelines under Section 92 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, along with the necessary rules. Bike taxi aggregators have been asked to cease operations within six weeks. Pursuant to this, the association shot off this letter dated April 9.

It has suggested for the joint committee to comprise of officials from the state transport department, industry representatives, and gig-worker or bike taxi unions to provide inputs for the guidelines. 

“An inclusive approach to devising such a framework will help ensure that any future policy is balanced, equitable, and sustainable, protecting both the livelihoods of gig workers and the commuting needs of lakhs of citizens. The industry is willing to coordinate and collaborate with in furtherance of the formulation of guidelines for bike taxis in Karnataka.,” the association highlighted in its letter to the department of Transport.

With increasing traffic congestion and limited public transport options, bike taxis offer a convenient and cost-effective solution for lakhs of daily commuters and provide livelihood opportunities for gig workers across the state, especially Bengaluru. Karnataka-based Rapido had also issued a statement in the light of this event, raising concerns about the welfare of lakhs of bike taxi captains, looking to evaluate and pursue appropriate legal remedies. 

Several bike taxi drivers DH previously spoke to said that they are looking for alternate options in the light of ongoing uncertainty. “They have financial commitments. Many have children, and in a month or so, they need to pay their school fees. Asking them to wrap up operations without as much as a warning is unfair,” asserted Adi Narayana, president of the Bike Taxi Welfare Association.

However, N V Prasad, Secretary, Transport Department, said that he hadn't received any representation given by the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) for holding consultations with the industry on formulating bike taxi regulations.

Prasad insisted that the department was yet to go through the high court order dated April 2, 2025, that had stipulated that bike taxi services in Karnataka must be stopped within six weeks. "We will decide the next course of action, including on policy formulations for bike taxi services, after studying the court order," he told DH.