No ban on bike taxis: Tamil Nadu volte-face after circular from Transport Department

Chennai: Tamil Nadu Transport Minister S S Shivashankar on Wednesday clarified that there is no ban on bike taxis in the state after an uproar over a circular issued by the Transport Department asking field officers to take up special drives for enforcement of Motor Vehicle Act with respect to two-wheelers being used for commercial purposes.

The circular, which comes close on the heels of auto rickshaw unions across the state protesting against the mushrooming of bike taxis, led to concerns whether motorcycles that are used to transport people will be confiscated.

Several social media users slammed the state government for advocating a ban on bike taxis instead of “regulating” auto rickshaw fares that force the public to choose other options. They also wanted to know whether the government was acting under pressure from auto rickshaw unions.

Autorickshaw fares are quite high in Tamil Nadu when compared to other states and cities with the three-wheelers dumping the meters and fixing rates on their own, which are exorbitant. The charges could be anywhere between Rs 80 to Rs 100 for a distance of two km, forcing many commuters to shift to bike taxis, which are way cheaper.

The circular issued on Tuesday said the Tamil Nadu Road Transport Workers Associations, in a memorandum, has indicated that there are various violations to MV Act and rules especially by two wheelers which are being used for commercial purposes. “Field officers are therefore directed to take up special drive for enforcement of MV Act and rules and ensure compliance of extant rules and regulations,” the circular said.

As the circular kicked up a row, Shivashankar said bike taxis will not be confiscated and that a decision in this regard will be made in consultation with the Union Government, which hasn’t banned bike taxis. “There is no ban,” the minister said, adding that there were concerns over the safety of passengers on bike taxis and complaints from auto drivers on losing their business.