Bike taxi riders stage silent protest at Vidhan Soudha in Bengaluru
A group of bike taxi riders assembled in front of Vidhan Soudha in Bengaluru for a silent protest on June 21 against the government of Karnataka for not supporting their business.
They want the government of Karnataka to frame rules for bike taxis.
Bike taxi riders protest in Bengaluru
On June 16, app-based bike taxi operations were told to stop operations across Karnataka, following the refusal of the High Court to stay an earlier order mandating the suspension of such services unless the State introduces regulatory norms under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.
On June 13, a Division Bench of the High Court upheld a single judge order dated April 2, which had directed all bike taxi services to wind up operations within six weeks.
The move is believed to have affect thousands of riders and commuters. An executive of a leading bike taxi aggregator platform, speaking on condition of anonymity, claimed that over six lakh individuals in Karnataka depend on bike taxi gigs for their livelihood. 'Most of them earn around ₹35,000 a month, and this ban could push many families into financial distress,' the official claimed.
Adi Narayana, president of the Bike Taxi Welfare Association, said many riders are approaching the association's offices seeking clarity on their future. 'Most of our captains have EMIs to pay, families to feed, and rent to cover. This is not just about losing a job, it's about losing the ability to survive. Will the government offer any support?'
On June 21, some of the affected bike taxi riders turned up in front of Vidhan Soudha for a silent protest. Some of them had come from as far as Nelamangala, Hoskote, Mandya, and Ramanagara.
One of them told The Hindu, 'I work in Peenya industrial estate in Bengaluru. My wife works as a maid. We have two children. I was working part-time for a bike taxi operator to supplement my income. Bengaluru is an expensive city, and I could not afford to take care of my family with my salary.'
The bike riders had come together for the protest on their own, and were not led by any organisation.
On seeing bike taxi riders gathering in front of Vidhan Soudha, police advised them to disperse saying they could not stage a protest at the site without permission. Some of the protesters were taken into custody while the others were told to disperse, or risk arrest.
One bike taxi rider told The Hindu, 'We were not aware that we needed permission to protest in front of Vidhan Soudha in Bengaluru. We will come again. Police advised us to taken permission and protest at Freedom Park in Bengaluru.'
Following the ban on their operations, a Rapido spokesperson had said, 'This is a difficult time for our captains, who depend on us for their main source of income. They have played a key role in enabling affordable, last-mile transportation for millions across Karnataka.'
The company stated that it is actively engaging with the Karnataka Transport Department to develop a regulatory framework that is not only lawful, but also viable for all stakeholders involved. It stressed that the safety of commuters and the well-being of gig workers will continue to be at the heart of its approach.
'We remain optimistic that ongoing discussions with the authorities will lead to a balanced policy framework, similar to those in other States and Union Territories,' the spokesperson had added.
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