Auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers in Hyderabad are calling on the government to shut down ride-hailing apps like Rapido, Ola, and Uber that allow motorbikes to operate as taxis. They claim that nearly all bike taxis are illegal, as using private vehicles for commercial purposes goes against the Motor Vehicle Act. The Telangana Gig and Platform Workers’ Union is also urging the government to crack down on these illegal bike taxis, which are negatively impacting auto-rickshaws and taxi drivers. Ola, Uber, and Rapido are running these services illegally by allowing private licensed vehicles to participate.
The local auto-rickshaw and cab drivers are suffering financial losses due to the reduced demand for their services caused by the cheaper rates offered by bike taxis. Privately owned bike taxis do not have to pay road permits, taxes, and license fees like commercial vehicles do. The TGPWU State president, Shaik Salauddin, has submitted multiple representations to the Chief Minister, Transport Minister, and Chief Secretary, emphasizing the negative effects of bike taxis on commercial drivers. He has called for the implementation of the Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines 2020 and for action to be taken against aggregator companies.
Salauddin argues that ride-hailing companies like Rapido, Ola, and Uber are illegally using private two-wheeled vehicles for transporting passengers in Telangana. This not only violates business practices but also poses safety risks for passengers and city traffic. These companies are prioritizing their own profits while the state government is losing out on various fees and taxes that should be collected from commercially registered vehicles. The Supreme Court has already banned unlicensed bike taxi operations in most major cities in India and has ordered these companies to obtain licenses under the Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines 2020 before operating. However, this has not been implemented in Telangana yet.
Salauddin stresses that the government should take action against these aggregator companies that are misleading workers into commercially operating private vehicles. Many young people are involved in this practice. He also suggests that the government should provide subsidized opportunities for drivers in Telangana to renew their commercial driving licenses and badges.
