Bengaluru: The transport department seems to have a lot on its plate. While their policy on cab aggregators was challenged in the Karnataka High Court by Uber last year, now there is a strike by drivers of Uber and Ola on insufficient incentives and commission given to them.
This will not be the end, as the drivers are planning another strike on February 15 in front of the transport commissioner's office.
“The transport department told us to get a city permit for point-to-point commute, while a state permit for package tours. While all taxi unions have obliged, Uber and Ola have not followed the rules and have not got all-India and state permits," said Mr Ramesh, a member of the Bruhat Bengaluru Taxi Drivers’ Union.
He claimed that only a few private cabs follow the rules, while majority flout them. “City taxis have digital meters which calculate the fare based on the run of the wheels. But private cabs use mobile fares with strange calculations. This is not authorised and commuters also don’t receive the printed bill with the breakup,” he said.
“The policy states that the driver should know Kannada, English and Hindi, and also all the routes in the city. Private cabs hire people from other states with around 15% from West Bengal who don't know the local language. This has robbed the local people of job opportunities,” he said.
Over 5,000 people from different 25 unions, including taxi associations, AITU, CITU, auto unions and others, will protest in front of the transport commissioner’s office on February 15, demanding loopholes in the system should be plugged.
