After bike taxi ban in Karnataka, Telangana gig workers demand State government follow suit

TGPWU president said that unemployed youth are being misled into thinking bike taxi operations are legal. The Union said the services in Hyderabad are provided using non-commercial vehicles

With bike taxis were prohibited from plying roads in Bengaluru following the Karnataka High Court’s refusal to stay a previous order, a gig workers’ union demanded that the Congress government in Telangana follow suit.

The Telangana Gig and Platform Workers’ Union (TGPWU) claimed that bike taxis in Hyderabad were providing their services using non-commercial vehicles, meaning those with white registration number plates. Such number plates, they argued, should be treated as private vehicles, and are a violation of existing stipulations.

The Union demanded Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar to bring about clarity on the issue, and penalise ride hailing apps and companies that have been onboarding riders. They also demanded that the State government bring about an immediate halt to bike taxi operations.

Drivers face penalties when caught by enforcement authorities

On the other hand, the Union took a sympathetic view of bike taxi riders. They maintained that such drivers were “misled” by prevailing practices. Such drivers, they argued, should not be fined. Instead, they should be provided with alternate means of livelihood.

“While these companies continue to collect hefty commissions, poor, unemployed youth are being misled into thinking bike taxi operations are legal. When caught by enforcement authorities, it is the drivers who face penalties, pushing them further into poverty and economic distress,” TGPWU president Shaik Salauddin said. “We have been making this demand for a very long time. White number plate bike taxis also affect the revenue of the government as there is a loss of revenue derived through taxes, fee and permit chargers. This is something that the government should understand.”

“We urge the government to act swiftly before this illegality grows further. Companies cannot be allowed to exploit legal loopholes while poor drivers bear the consequences,” said Mr. Salauddin. Soon after the Karnataka High Court refused the stay, bike taxi riders staged a protest at the Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru.