Bengaluru’s auto-rickshaw and taxi unions have given the Karnataka government 15 days to act against app-based bike-taxi services, alleging that they are operating without the required legal framework and raising concerns over passenger safety, insurance and driver verification.
The Federation of Karnataka State Private Transport Associations has asked authorities to remove bike-taxi aggregator apps from online marketplaces and investigate them under relevant laws, while drivers have begun displaying black flags on their vehicles as a mark of protest.
Federation president S Nataraj Sharma said complaints have been submitted to the transport and police authorities, and warned that a Bengaluru bandh could be considered if the government does not act. The demand comes as Karnataka’s Transport Department continues its crackdown on unauthorised bike taxis while the state challenges a January 2026 Karnataka High Court ruling before the Supreme Court.
Transport officials maintain that privately registered motorcycles cannot be used for commercial passenger services without the necessary permits, while bike-taxi riders argue that the government should create a clear regulatory framework rather than rely on enforcement. Meanwhile, commuters are caught between competing transport options, with reports of longer waits and higher auto fares following the crackdown.
Unions Demand Immediate Action
The latest protest was launched by the Federation of Karnataka State Private Transport Associations, which has approached the transport department seeking action against companies facilitating bike-taxi bookings.
The federation wants authorities to seek the removal of bike-taxi applications from app stores and online marketplaces, arguing that these services are operating without a clear regulatory framework while the matter remains before the Supreme Court. The unions have also sought action under provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act, Information Technology Act and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, among other laws.
Federation president S Nataraj Sharma said complaints had been submitted to both the transport commissioner and the commissioner of police against companies allegedly operating bike-taxi services without the required licences.
He also alleged that some aggregators claim through their platforms and social media to be authorised to operate bike taxis, even though licences held by some companies may cover taxi services rather than motorcycles. The federation has sought investigation into these claims, including possible violations of cybercrime and information technology provisions.
The unions have also raised concerns about passenger safety and accountability. Sharma said people using commercial transport should have adequate insurance coverage and clear mechanisms for accountability in the event of an accident or other incident.
The federation has further alleged that some aggregators do not sufficiently verify vehicle owners or conduct police verification. These remain allegations made by the unions and are part of the ongoing regulatory dispute, rather than established findings against all bike-taxi platforms or riders.
The federation has given the government 15 days to respond. Until then, members will continue displaying black flags on autos and taxis across Bengaluru and other districts. If the authorities fail to act, Sharma said the federation could consider escalating the protest, including a possible Bengaluru bandh.
Crackdown Meets Legal Uncertainty
The unions’ ultimatum comes weeks after Karnataka resumed enforcement against unauthorised bike-taxi operations. On August 5, the Transport Department seized 263 motorcycles in Bengaluru, followed by another 70 vehicles the next day, taking the reported total to 333 seizures in two days. Officials said the action targeted motorcycles being used for commercial passenger transport without the required permits.
P Omkareshwari, Additional Commissioner for Transport (Enforcement, South and Bengaluru Urban), said the department had resumed enforcement after the state filed its appeal against the High Court ruling before the Supreme Court.
“We have not permitted bike taxi operations in Bengaluru,” she said, adding that the department considered such operations unauthorised and would continue enforcement. She also clarified that the High Court had not directed the department to stop enforcement, but had asked the government to formulate the necessary rules and policy.
The legal dispute dates back to the Karnataka High Court’s January 2026 judgment, which held that motorcycles could be considered transport vehicles and could not be denied contract-carriage permits merely because they were two-wheelers.
The court, however, also recognised the state’s power to regulate the sector by prescribing appropriate conditions for permits. The Karnataka government has challenged the ruling in the Supreme Court, arguing that commercial passenger transport is a regulated activity and that motorcycle owners do not have an automatic right to operate their vehicles as taxis.
Karnataka has also told the Supreme Court that bike taxis raise concerns over passenger safety, accident vulnerability, insurance coverage and women’s safety. For auto unions, however, the issue is not necessarily the existence of bike taxis themselves but whether they operate under the same commercial rules as other passenger vehicles.
During the August crackdown, Auto Rickshaw Drivers Union representative Rudramurthy said, “We are not against bike taxis as a concept,” adding that the union would have no objection if the government introduced rules requiring proper commercial registration and permits.
Fares And Commuters At Centre
The federation’s complaint also extends beyond bike taxis. It has demanded a “One City, One Fare” policy, arguing that auto-rickshaw and taxi aggregators should follow government-prescribed fares rather than varying charges according to demand, peak hours or weather conditions. Sharma said the federation had no objection to aggregators collecting their permitted commission, but argued that passengers should pay the government-fixed fare.
The demand comes as commuters report the consequences of reduced bike-taxi availability. After the August crackdown, passengers faced longer waiting times for bike taxis, while some shifted to autos. Moneycontrol reported that 333 two-wheelers were seized during the first two days of the drive and that many riders temporarily stopped accepting app-based bookings.
Fresh reports on August 30 suggest that some commuters are now facing higher auto fares. Passengers have complained about drivers cancelling rides or asking for additional amounts before accepting bookings, particularly during busy periods. One commuter told The New Indian Express that fares could suddenly rise by ₹70–80, making daily travel difficult for those who had previously relied on cheaper bike taxis.
At the same time, the enforcement drive has reportedly pushed some bike-taxi riders towards interior neighbourhoods and less-policed areas to avoid checkpoints and vehicle seizures, creating what recent reporting has described as a “cat-and-mouse” situation between enforcement teams and riders.
This leaves Bengaluru with a difficult mobility question. Traditional auto and taxi drivers want a level playing field and enforcement of existing rules. Bike-taxi riders want recognition and a regulatory pathway that protects their livelihoods. The government is concerned about permits, safety and accountability, while commuters want affordable, reliable and convenient transport.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Bengaluru’s bike-taxi dispute shows why transport policy cannot be reduced to a battle between traditional drivers and app-based platforms. Every side has legitimate concerns that deserve to be heard: auto and taxi drivers need fair competition and predictable regulations; bike-taxi riders need clarity and protection from arbitrary enforcement; passengers need safe and affordable mobility; and the government must ensure that any commercial transport service meets reasonable standards of licensing, insurance and accountability.
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