Karnataka bike taxi drivers seek personal hearing with transport minister

Bengaluru: Bike taxi drivers in Karnataka have sought a personal hearing with Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy, insisting that they must be included in consultations that affect their livelihood. 

The state has banned bike taxis since June 16, in line with a high court directive. Ride-hailing firms Uber, Ola and Rapido have filed writ appeals against the single-bench order. The next hearing is on November 24. 

The Namma Bike Taxi Association wrote a letter to Reddy on November 20 after an 11-member government committee headed by Transport Secretary N V Prasad submitted its report to the high court. 

The report justified a complete ban on bike taxis, calling them “illegal, unsafe and harmful to the future of Bengaluru’s transport ecosystem”. It, however, recommended allowing private two-wheelers to continue operating for e-commerce deliveries. 

The report noted that even if bike taxis are banned, livelihoods will not be affected because riders can shift to delivery/logistics work. It also claimed that bike taxis “harm” students’ interests. 

The association asserted that a complete ban on bike taxis “does not align with ground realities”. 

Noting that delivery platforms are already overcrowded, the association said that if the lakhs of bike taxi riders were forced to shift into the same sector at once, there would not be sufficient income for anyone. 

“Our biggest concern is that workers who will be directly affected by these decisions were not consulted at any stage during the preparation of the report,” it said and asked that drivers be given an opportunity to present their views. 

The association urged the government to immediately implement the revised aggregatory policy and introduce a regulatory framework recognising bike taxis as a legal commercial transport service. It also sought social security coverage for bike taxi riders under the Gig Workers Act, 2025. 

“We are ready to follow every rule, but first, let the government make the rules. No one spoke to us when our livelihoods were being taken away. A fair process means giving drivers a voice before deciding our future,” association president Mohammed Salim said. 

In its November 19 letter to the transport secretary, the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) also sought public consultations before the government finalises its stance on bike axis.