Autorickshaw drivers to stage protest against e-bike taxis on December 29

BENGALURU: With electric bike taxis all set to launch in the city, autorickshaw drivers have called for a protest on December 29 against the State Transport Department.

The autorickshaw drivers are unhappy with the Transport Department for giving licence to e-bike taxis. A huge rally will be held from Krantiveera Sangolli Rayanna Railway Station to Vidhanan Soudha. Twenty one autorickshaw unions have extended their support for the protest and 2,10,000 autorickshaw drivers have also extended their support by participating in the rally and protest.

Wickedride and Bounce bike taxis have plans to launch e-bike services in the city.

The major demands of the auto unions are:

Bike taxi services like Rapido should be banned.

Permission given to Wickedride and Bounce Electric bike taxi services should be withdrawn.

Earlier, the Karanataka Transport Department had given permission for e-bike taxis in the city. Wickedride has decided to launch 100 e-bike taxis in the first phase. Eventually, it has decided to roll out 1,000 e-bikes in the city. During the pre-Covid era, the company provided bike services in the city, and after Covid, the company applied for permission and licence to provide e-bike services in the city.