Transportation facilities in Bengaluru came to halt after autorickshaw drivers in the city went on a strike on Monday. The Bengaluru auto drivers on Monday stated that no services will be provided from their side in the city till the time their demands are not met. Autorickshaw drivers in Bengaluru are on strike against the bike taxi services that are available and increased demand for the same. The Bengaluru Auto Drivers Unions' Federation on Monday announced stated, “all the autorickshaw drivers will go on a strike on Monday against the illegal bike taxis being operated in the city.”
Why have Bengaluru auto-rickshaw drivers gone on strike?
Reportedly, autorickshaw drivers in Bengaluru are protesting against Rapido and other bike services available in the city. According to Bengaluru Auto Drivers Unions' Federation these taxi bike facilities are operating illegally in the city and should be stopped. They stated although state transport department claims that these services are illegal, still the drivers are allowed to operate in the city. The union further added that due to these illegal bike services demand for autorickshaws has gone down. The unions have only one demand which is to put a ban on bike taxis operating illegally in the city.
The Bengaluru Auto Drivers Unions' Federation announced that they will take out a march from Bengaluru Railway Station to Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai's residence. They stated that they will observe a 24-hour strike which has already started from Sunday midnight. Adarsh Auto and Taxi Drivers' Union president M Manjunath also supported the federation protesting on the road.
In contrary to this, Bengaluru locals have stated that autorickshaw drivers of the city are charging very high rates for short distances due to the strike. The bike taxi services in Bengaluru are allowed under the Karnataka Electric Bike Taxi Scheme 2021.