Latest news with #GigWorkers'WelfareBill
Hindustan Times
24-06-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Bengaluru traffic worsens by 18% within a week of bike taxi ban: Report
Traffic congestion in Bengaluru has spiked sharply, by as much as 18 percentage points, just a week after the Karnataka government enforced a statewide ban on bike taxis, Moneycontrol reported. At 7 pm, one of the Bengaluru's busiest slots, traffic consistently exceeded typical levels.(PTI) The move, which came into effect on June 16, has prompted mounting concerns among daily commuters and gig economy workers alike. Data from TomTom, a Netherlands-based location technology firm, reveals a clear rise in congestion during peak hours. At 7 pm, one of the city's busiest slots, traffic consistently exceeded typical levels. On the day the ban kicked in, congestion surged to 77 per cent, compared to the usual 59 per cent. Two days later, on June 18, congestion levels peaked at 83 per cent, up from the average 61 per cent, a staggering 22-point jump, the report added. The bike taxi ban, aimed at curbing illegal and unregulated operations, has had unintended consequences. Thousands of officegoers, who previously depended on these cost-effective and nimble two-wheeler rides, are now forced to switch to personal vehicles or autos, adding further strain to an already overburdened road network. To make matters worse, auto rickshaw drivers have reportedly taken advantage of the situation by hiking fares and refusing rides more frequently, especially during peak hours. This, in turn, has led to public frustration over affordability and accessibility. (Also Read: Woman molested, assaulted near Bengaluru by 'drunk' men while out shopping, caught on CCTV) Bike taxi riders urge govt to reverse crackdown The ban has also sparked protests from gig workers, many of whom operated as bike taxi drivers for app-based platforms. With their primary source of income abruptly cut off, drivers have demanded that the state reconsider the ban or provide viable alternatives. Over a hundred bike taxi riders under the banner of the Namma Bike Taxi Association met Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao and Dasarahalli MLA S. Muniraju on Thursday, urging the state to reconsider its crackdown on bike taxi services. The group of 110 riders, representing tens of thousands across Karnataka, submitted a formal petition calling for the legalization of bike taxis and a clear, consistent regulatory framework to prevent continued harassment and ambiguity on the ground. Their plea follows a string of unanswered open letters to top leaders, including Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, and MP Rahul Gandhi. Riders say the silence is especially frustrating given the recent passage of the Gig Workers' Welfare Bill by the same government, an initiative seen as progressive, even as enforcement actions have now stripped thousands of flexible-income earners of their livelihoods. The association has warned that without immediate intervention, both livelihoods and affordable last-mile mobility in urban Karnataka could suffer a severe blow. (Also Read: (With PTI inputs)
The Hindu
20-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Bike taxi drivers in Bengaluru demand legal recognition, cite threats and job loss
Over 100 bike taxi drivers from the Namma Bike Taxi Association met Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao and Dasarahalli MLA S. Muniraju on Thursday, urging the government to halt the ongoing crackdown on bike taxis and establish a clear regulatory framework. Representing platforms like Ola, Uber, and Rapido, the drivers submitted a petition demanding legal recognition and protection from harassment. 'Despite the recent passage of the Gig Workers' Welfare Bill, the government has remained silent on the status of bike taxis. I receive hundreds of distress calls daily. We want regulation, not a ban,' Mohammed Salim, president of the association, said.
