Overview
- The Karnataka High Court on June 25 deferred the hearing on legal challenges to its April directive that outlawed bike taxi operations, setting the next session for July 2.
- Since the June 16 ban, Bengaluru’s evening congestion has climbed from an average of 59% to peaks above 77%, while auto-rickshaw fares have risen by up to 25%.
- More than 5,000 bike taxi riders converged on Bengaluru’s Vidhana Soudha on June 25 to submit petitions urging the government to reinstate services under a clear regulatory framework.
- Bengaluru Central MP PC Mohan has called for strict enforcement of a ₹35 minimum fare cap on app-based autos to curb unchecked surge pricing and protect commuters.
- The Telangana Gig and Platform Workers’ Union has urged its government to follow Karnataka’s example by banning bike taxis, highlighting a growing nationwide debate over gig-economy transport regulation.