Private transporters in Karnataka threaten strike over bike taxi ban, key demands

Bengaluru: The Federation of Karnataka State Private Transport Associations on Wednesday warned of a strike if the state government does not address four of its key demands, including a blanket ban on bike taxis. 

Federation president S Nataraj Sharma reminded the government that it had called for a Bengaluru bandh on September 11, 2023, seeking the fulfilment of its 30 demands.

While Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy had addressed 24 of these demands falling within his purview, four key demands remained unaddressed. Reddy had promised to take them up with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, he noted. 

The demands include: an ordinance to ban bike taxis, reduction in road tax for buses, strict action against rider aggregators and implementation of 'one city, one fare', a separate law for internet companies providing goods transport. 

Sharma highlighted that the owners of private autos, taxis, goods vehicles and buses are in a state of distress and their concerns need immediate attention. 

Nightlong agitation

The Auto Rickshaw Drivers' Union (ARDU) is also staging a night-long agitation on Thursday to push for its various demands, including a bike taxi ban, a Rs 500-crore budgetary allocation for the welfare of RTC drivers, revocation of "anti-driver" sections in the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, a ban on "illegal" ride-hailing firms and a hike in auto fares.