Now Reading: 2 lakh Bengaluru cab drivers lack data on local count
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2 lakh Bengaluru cab drivers lack data on local count
The Karnataka government has for the first time disclosed that over 2 lakh drivers are linked to app-based cab aggregators in Bengaluru, but admitted it has no data on how many are…
The Karnataka government has for the first time disclosed that over 2 lakh drivers are linked to app-based cab aggregators in Bengaluru, but admitted it has no data on how many are local residents or migrants from other states. Ola has about 45,000 drivers, Uber 77,000 and Rapido 75,000 on their platforms, totalling nearly 1.97 lakh. The city has 2.97 lakh registered cabs overall.
Transport minister Byrathi Suresh said the government noticed large numbers of out-of-state drivers registering with aggregators, causing distress among locals. Local taxi unions have complained that migrant drivers are taking jobs by accepting better pay and incentives. The issue gained traction on social media after videos showed drivers from Kerala, Assam and northern states working in Bengaluru.
Under the Karnataka On-Demand Transportation Technology Aggregators Rules 2016, drivers must have been Karnataka residents for at least two years and possess working knowledge of Kannada. The government said it has installed panic buttons and tracking devices in public service vehicles under the Nirbhaya scheme, and aggregators must conduct police verification of all drivers.
Indian Opinion Analysis
Karnataka's 2016 rules already require two years' residency and Kannada knowledge, but enforcement has long been lax. The government has no system to track where drivers live, so it cannot tell how many violate the rule. Local unions argue that aggregators like Ola, Uber and Rapido exploit this enforcement gap to hire cheaper migrant labour, depressing wages for Kannadiga drivers. Maharashtra's new policy requiring Marathi proficiency for commercial drivers has become a political benchmark here. The government's next move could be tighter verification of driver addresses or a push for mandatory Kannada tests at the time of registration. Watch the winter session of the Karnataka assembly for any amendment to the aggregator rules.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
