The Karnataka Transport Department has formed a specialized 10-member panel tasked with thoroughly investigating bike taxi operations nationwide. This extensive study aims to gather essential data and insights to help craft a robust policy specifically for Karnataka.
To achieve this, teams of two officials recently traveled to various Indian cities. Their mission was to observe and analyze how different urban centers regulate and manage bike taxi services. A senior official from the Transport Department explained, ‘Our teams are meticulously examining crucial aspects such as fare systems, vital safety regulations, licensing requirements, the complexities of enforcement, and the significant role played by app-based aggregators. These comprehensive findings will enable us to present well-informed recommendations to the high-level committee responsible for formulating Karnataka’s new bike taxi framework.’
In parallel, a high-level committee has been constituted, led by N.V. Prasad, Secretary of the Transport Department, to deliberate on and finalize the upcoming policy. This influential committee comprises key representatives from diverse agencies including the Directorate of Urban Land Transport (DULT), the Labour Department, the Road Safety Cell, the Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC), Bengaluru City Traffic Police, Law and Order Police, Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (BMRCL), the Greater Bengaluru Authority, and the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board. The Additional Transport Commissioner, who also serves as the Secretary of the State Transport Authority, acts as the member secretary for this critical committee.
This policy-making endeavor is particularly significant given the state government’s earlier ban on bike taxi services this year. In response to this ban, major aggregators such as Rapido and Uber innovated by launching ‘Bike Direct.’ This alternative is a zero-commission, non-profit service designed to connect riders directly with customers, effectively bypassing the conventional aggregator platforms. Operators highlight that this model aims to empower independent drivers to maintain their livelihoods while ensuring commuters continue to have access to vital, affordable last-mile transportation options.