Rapido seeks nod to ply taxis in state, private transporters see red

BENGALURU: Amid the demand by private transporters to ban Rapido bike taxi services in the state, the aggregator is preparing to introduce taxi services to compete with Ola, Uber and Quick Ride.

The clash between autorickshaw drivers and Rapido bike taxis has been going on in the state for many months. Private transport organisations had also staged a huge protest in September demanding a ban on Rapido bike taxis. Aggregators are required to obtain a licence from the Transport Department under the Karnataka On-Demand Transportation Technology Aggregator Rules, 2016, but Rapido continues to operate bike taxis as the issue is in High Court of Karnataka.

Nataraj Sharma, president of the Federation of Private Transport Organisations said the Rapido bike taxi services should be stopped as it is operating illegally. “Due to this service, autorickshaw drivers are in dire straits and are being pushed to consuming poison to end their lives”, he said.

Rapido is still running its cab service on a trial basis in Hyderabad. The operator has submitted an application to the State Transport Department under the aggregator rules to run taxis here too, sources revealed.