Now Reading: Bengaluru auto overcharging ignored as bike taxi crackdown intensifies
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Bengaluru auto overcharging ignored as bike taxi crackdown intensifies
Bengaluru commuters are questioning why the transport department’s crackdown on illegal bike taxis has not been matched against autorickshaw drivers who overcharge, refuse trips, and exploit the shortage of alternative transport. Over…
The Story in Brief
Bengaluru commuters are questioning why the transport department’s crackdown on illegal bike taxis has not been matched against autorickshaw drivers who overcharge, refuse trips, and exploit the shortage of alternative transport. Over the past three days, officials have seized nearly 350 bike taxis, with penalties of Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000 and possible licence suspension. Commuters like Reshma and Ravi Prasad say the crackdown has left them paying exorbitant auto fares or enduring longer bus routes.
The Namma Bike Taxi Association, representing over one lakh bike-taxi riders, accused the department of ignoring requests for clarity on operating legally after the high court directed regulation. A transport official said Karnataka has no policy permitting bike taxis, which The Deccan Herald notes reflects a contradictory approach to urban mobility.
The Indian Opinion
The crackdown on bike taxis without a policy for them is a convenient way to protect auto unions while ignoring complaints about autorickshaw overcharging. The government cannot claim safety concerns when it refuses to frame rules, as the high court pointed out. The test is whether the state will now follow states that have regulated bike taxis or keep governing through a policy vacuum. Which side is the transport minister on? Let him clarify before more commuters are squeezed.
Sources (2): timesofindia.indiatimes.com, deccanherald.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources.
