Govt Suspends e-bike taxi services; How did Rapido react?

Due to worries about safety and legal compliance, the Karnataka government has decided to stop offering electric bike taxi services. In light of safety and legal compliance concerns, the Karnataka government has decided to end electric bike taxi services in the state. The operation of such services was made possible by the Electric Bike Taxi Scheme in 2021.

The decision, which was communicated by a government decree on March 6, nullifies the 2021 Electric Bike Taxi Scheme, which had allowed the provision of such services. Rapido, a supplier of bike taxi services, asserts that the directive only applies to "electric" vehicles and excludes gasoline-powered two-wheelers.

Rapido reflects

According to Rapido, the current state government has abandoned the electric bike taxi scheme that was implemented in 2021 by the previous administration. As per a statement from Rapido, the Electric Bike Taxi initiative was limited to the use of electric bike taxis in the state of Karnataka.

The statement continued by stating that Rapido will continue to run its bike taxi business and provide its services to captains and customers in the state of Karnataka without any interruptions and that the notice sent by the state government does not relate to Rapido's operations within the state. 

Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy informs

However, according to Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy, the directive is not just for electric cars. Reddy revealed that on Wednesday, we withdrew the permit that the government had granted for electric vehicle taxi services starting in 2021. It's not just applicable to electric two-wheelers, though. All illegal two-wheelers operating as bike taxis have been declared unlawful and ought not to be permitted to operate.

Reddy said that they are unaware of the court order that Rapido Company is referring to. They'll give it a look. The safety of the populace worries the government. According to Reddy, the majority of bike taxis are not authorized, and most of the captains are college students. Neither the passengers nor the bike captains are covered by insurance. They received a lot of complaints, so it's our responsibility to make sure everyone is secure.

The minister also brought up the issue of how the bike taxis are affecting the drivers of autorickshaws. Reddy continued by saying that bike taxis are robbing drivers of their rides and that drivers of automobiles must pay the government to renew their transport permits every three months. They recently staged a protest against cab services. No unlicensed vehicle may operate on public roadways.