A group of bike taxi drivers in Delhi has reached out to Lieutenant Governor (LG) V K Saxena, urging him to intervene and prevent the ban on their services. This plea comes in response to the recent statement by the Delhi government regarding the impounding of bike taxis if they continue to operate in the city.
According to news agency PTI, the group of drivers submitted a memorandum to the LG’s office, highlighting the adamant stance of the Delhi government in banning their services.
The memorandum expressed concerns about the difficulties the drivers would face in meeting their household expenses, providing education for their children, and taking care of their parents if their livelihoods were affected.
In response to the Delhi High Court’s order allowing bike taxis to operate in the national capital, an official from the Delhi transport department stated that authorities would impound the vehicles of aggregators such as Uber, Ola, and Rapido if they persist in operating bike taxis.
Ashish Kundra, the principal secretary and commissioner for transport in the Delhi government, stated that an advisory would be issued to the companies, urging them to comply with the court order. Failure to do so would result in the impounding of vehicles.
The Supreme Court recently overturned the Delhi High Court’s order, stating that it was unnecessary since the Delhi government was already in the process of formulating a policy for granting licenses to bike taxi aggregators.
The conflict between bike taxi aggregators and the Delhi government began in February when the transport department issued an order banning all players from offering bike taxi services in the city. The order also imposed a penalty of INR 1 lakh on aggregators found in violation.
Last month, the transport department published the “Draft Delhi Motor Vehicle Aggregator and Delivery Services Provider Scheme” and sought feedback. According to the proposed rules, the government would allow the operation of bike taxis, provided that the vehicles are electric two-wheelers.
The draft specified that bike taxi services would be permitted for aggregators, with the condition that all vehicles added to the fleet after the scheme’s commencement must be electric vehicles.
The outcome of the bike taxi drivers’ appeal to the LG remains to be seen, as they hope to find a resolution to continue their services and sustain their livelihoods.
