No extra time, 1.2L bike taxis to go off roads in Karnataka by Monday; Nasscom seeks policy for gig workers | Bengaluru News
BENGALURU: With Karnataka high court refusing to stay a single bench order directing bike taxi operators to cease operations, the Karnataka transport department has reiterated that aggregators like Rapido, Ola, and Uber must stop offering bike taxi services from June 16.A department source said, “The govt has maintained bike taxi services are illegal in Karnataka. The dept took the same stand before HC. Now, the division bench has refused to stay the order.”The govt has shown no intent to introduce a regulatory framework to legalise bike taxi services. The ongoing tussle between aggregators and the transport department persisted for years. The service, which saw a significant spike in demand post-pandemic, gained popularity in Bengaluru due to its affordability and convenience. However, autorickshaw drivers strongly opposed bike taxis, calling for a complete ban.In 2021, the govt introduced a policy on e-bike taxis with several regulations, but it was withdrawn last year citing concerns over misuse and safety.Nasscom urges govt to frame policyThe National Association of Software and Service Companies (Nasscom) has formally appealed to Karnataka transport minister Ramalinga Reddy, requesting immediate intervention to prepare a clear policy framework for bike taxi operations. The appeal comes in response to HC’s directive to halt bike taxi services.In its submission, Nasscom urged the govt to extend the June 15 deadline to avoid widespread livelihood disruption. It called for the initiation of a consultative process to develop a balanced and long-term regulatory solution.The industry body maintains that tech-enabled mobility solutions like bike taxis support livelihoods, improve last-mile connectivity, and decongest urban traffic. “The ecosystem not only offers affordable and efficient mobility but also sustains lakhs of gig workers across the state, including students, women, migrants from other parts of Karnataka, and those recovering from the post-pandemic economic crisis,” Nasscom said.