Tensions flared in Bengaluru yesterday as a group of bike taxi drivers were detained by police for staging a protest outside Vidhana Soudha, Karnataka’s legislative heart. The protest, aimed at pushing back against the ongoing suspension of bike taxi services, was swiftly disrupted by police, who removed the protesters from the premises almost as soon as they assembled.
The disruption follows an earlier Karnataka High Court ruling from April that brought all bike taxi operations in the state to a standstill. In the ruling, the HC noted that such services were running without a proper regulatory framework and ordered the government to first notify clear rules under the Motor Vehicles Act before allowing them to operate.
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According to PTI, the drivers had gathered without official permission and now face legal action for violating protest regulations.
Their demands? An immediate lift of the blanket ban and the introduction of structured regulations that would allow them to operate legally while ensuring rider safety. The drivers argued that bike taxis aren’t just a convenience—they’re a lifeline. With an estimated 1.5 lakh drivers affected by the shutdown, many now find themselves abruptly out of work.
The protest came on the heels of a high-level appeal. Just a day earlier, representatives of the bike taxi community had met Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao and Dasarahalli MLA S Muniraju, urging them to raise the issue at the state level. Open letters were also sent to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, and MP Rahul Gandhi.
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But the unrest didn’t end there. Members of the Namma Bike Taxi Association have alleged that rival auto unions harassed drivers and blocked them from gathering at Freedom Park, the city’s designated protest zone.
As legal battles continue, major players like Uber, Ola, and Rapido have taken the fight to court. While they filed an appeal against the initial HC order, the division bench has so far refused to overturn the ban, leaving both drivers and companies in limbo.
The future of bike taxis in Karnataka remains unclear, but one thing is certain—the issue is far from over, and thousands are still waiting for the government to get into gear.
