Autorickshaw drivers are all set to go on a state-wide strike which is likely to affect auto services in Bengaluru. The strike was called by 21 auto-drivers unions and will be on for the next 24 hours. The strike is being held under the banner of the Bangalore Auto Drivers’ Federation and is aimed at protesting ‘illegal’ bike taxis and whiteboard taxi operations in the city.
The union has one of the largest membership of autorickshaw drivers in Karnataka‘s state capital. The autorickshaw drivers will also take out a march from Bengaluru City Railway Station to the Chief Minister’s House.
This isn’t the first time the union has demanded a ban for bike taxis, because they claim to threaten the livelihoods of autorickshaw drivers. The strike is expected to engage a number of autorickshaws and their drivers off the roads, according to union sources.
“We will observe a 24-hour strike starting from Sunday midnight. Our agitation is against the illegal operation of bike taxis operating in the city,” Manjunath told PTI.
He claimed the state transport department viewed bike taxis as illegal but yet the drivers are operating on the city roads with impunity.
The union has urged the state government to ban the use of bike taxi services provided by mobile app-based aggregators in the city. Drivers claim that aggregators are luring young people to use their “illegal” bike taxi services by putting whiteboards on two-wheelers (intended for personal use) without obtaining any license from the transport department.
Autorickshaw drivers and bike taxis have been competing for space on Bengaluru’s roads to gain customers.