On Monday, hundreds of autorickshaw drivers and owners in Hubballi gathered for a spirited rally and protest. Their central demand was clear: a complete ban on online ride-booking applications such as Ola, Uber, Yatri, and Rapido in smaller cities. They insisted that these apps should be exclusively available in the state capital, Bengaluru.
The demonstration commenced at Kittur Chennamma Circle, where a large convoy of autorickshaws assembled. From there, they proceeded in a vibrant rally to Gabbur, located on the outskirts of Hubballi, the site of the Regional Transport Office (RTO).
Leading this significant movement were prominent figures like Shekharayya Mathapati, who presides over the Uttara Karnataka Auto Rickshaw Drivers Association, and K.M. Santosh, the president of the Auto Federation.
Upon reaching the RTO office in Gabbur, the protestors transitioned into a sit-in demonstration, voicing their grievances. They passionately argued that these digital ride-booking platforms were severely impacting their livelihoods, leading to significant financial losses and considerable hardship.
Their core demand reiterated that such applications should be confined solely to Bengaluru, sparing other towns and cities across the state. The protesting drivers issued a stark warning: if their demands remained unaddressed, they would escalate their agitation with a “Bengaluru Chalo” (March to Bengaluru) movement. Following their powerful display, a formal memorandum outlining their requests was submitted to the transport authorities.