Crackdown on Bike Taxis in Karnataka Sparks Outcry Over Livelihoods and Policy Gaps
- Karnataka Transport Department seized 103 bike taxis in Bengaluru following a High Court order declaring bike taxi services illegal.
- Over one lakh riders face income loss; Namma Bike Taxi Association appealed to Rahul Gandhi and CM Siddaramaiah for intervention.
- Aggregators like Uber halted services; association criticized the lack of regulatory framework and called for constructive dialogue.
In a move that has triggered widespread concern and pushback, the Karnataka Transport and Police Departments launched a sweeping crackdown on bike taxi services across Bengaluru and other district headquarters, following a directive from the Karnataka High Court.
Acting swiftly on the court’s order, Regional Transport Office (RTO) officials in Bengaluru seized 103 bike taxis in a single day. The crackdown comes in the wake of a legal decision that declared bike taxi operations illegal under current laws, citing the absence of necessary state-level provisions or guidelines.
Additional Commissioner of Transport Mallikarjuna clarified the basis of the enforcement drive. “The High Court has made it clear that there is no provision in the law permitting bike taxi services. Two-wheelers with white number plates cannot be used for commercial purposes. The same applies to white-plate cars”, he said.
He further warned that the crackdown would persist if the court’s ruling is not adhered to, adding that the Transport Department had never authorised bike taxis and would not permit them to operate without the requisite legal framework.
The development has triggered anxiety and protests among riders and aggregators alike. The Namma Bike Taxi Association has made a direct appeal to political leaders including Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, seeking their urgent intervention to reverse the ban.
The association highlighted the socio-economic repercussions of the decision, noting that over one lakh riders across the state could lose their livelihoods. Many of them are students, daily wage earners, and sole breadwinners for their families.
In their letter, the association urged, “We ride in the sun, rain, and traffic for 10–12 hours a day to support our families. This is not just extra income this is our only income. Don’t ban us overnight. Talk to us. Find a way forward that ensures passenger safety, proper regulation, and lets us sustain our livelihoods”.
The crackdown followed the High Court’s refusal last Friday to stay an earlier order from a single-judge bench that directed the cessation of bike taxi services in the state. The division bench, headed by Acting Chief Justice V. Kameshwara Rao and Justice Sreenivas Harish Kumar, extended the deadline for halting operations to June 15 and scheduled the next hearing for June 24.
The original ruling, delivered on April 2 by Justice B. Shyam Prasad, held that bike taxi aggregators cannot legally operate in Karnataka until the government formulates rules under Section 3 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.
As a result of the legal setback, major app-based aggregators have curtailed their bike taxi services in Karnataka, limiting their platforms to parcel deliveries. On Monday, Uber confirmed the suspension of its bike taxi operations in the state, calling it a difficult decision.
“This move will negatively affect thousands who depend on bike taxis for mobility and livelihood. We will continue to engage with the government to help shape a policy framework that enables safe, accessible, and affordable transport for all,” Uber stated.
The Namma Bike Taxi Association also criticized the Transport Department’s abrupt action, pointing out that instead of establishing systems for licensing, training, and insurance, the government has cut off a vital source of income. The letter also pointed to the previous withdrawal of the electric bike taxi scheme as another example of inconsistent policy implementation.
While Karnataka has made strides in supporting gig workers through welfare schemes and insurance, the association warns that this latest decision threatens to undo much of that progress, pushing thousands into economic uncertainty.
