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.
