Autorickshaw drivers’ unions stage protest against bike taxi operation in front of the Pune collector office on Wednesday
His organisations have planned a protest for Nov 2. An RTO source estimated that over 1,500 bike taxi riders could be working for Rapido and Uber and the number may rise. Because the authorities are not strict,” he said, these companies are doing as they please. Because they provide quick and affordable transport,” he said, bike taxis should be permitted through a proper approval. Because they operate in a coordinated manner, “Tracking them remains difficult.
Pune RTO officials confirmed that Uber had started offering bike-taxi services, adding that neither of the companies had received permission for the bike taxi operations in the city. You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Pune | Silver Rate in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune | Petrol Price in Pune | Diesel Price in Pune | CNG Price in Pune | LPG Price in Pune Stay updated with the latest Pune news.
These operators are eating into our business and, more importantly, operating illegally,” said Nitin Pawar, president of Rickshaw Panchayat. Keshav Kshirsagar, president of Baghtoy Rikshawala and the Indian Gig Workers Front, said an FIR should be registered against Uber without delay. Auto drivers said the bike taxi option appeared on the Uber app from Tuesday afternoon, prompting fresh demands for stricter action against both companies. Mohammad Sadiq, an autorickshaw driver from Vimannagar, said drivers had begun monitoring other ride-hailing applications after Rapido continued offering bike-taxi services despite an FIR against the company. It is shocking that both companies are operating an unauthorised service despite the authorities being aware of the situation,” he said. Suraj Chavan, a working professional from Shivajinagar, said bike taxis offered an affordable and convenient alternative. An FIR could be lodged against Uber as well,” said a senior RTO official. Many are working professionals who take up rides as a part-time job to supplement income, the source said. If one or two riders are caught, they circulate the cellphone numbers used to book their rides, allowing other riders to block those numbers,” the source said. The Pune police commissioner had told TOI that the police asked Google and Apple to remove Rapido’s application from their respective application stores.
Pune: Tensions intensified among autorickshaw drivers and their unions, who have already been protesting Rapido’s bike taxi service, after Uber entered the market. “We are distressed. If the authorities do not take immediate action, we will intensify our protests. “Even after an FIR was registered against Rapido, its bike taxis continue to operate freely. Its response was awaited at the time of going to press. “Since Rapido’s bike-taxi option became active and its riders started ferrying passengers, we have been keeping an eye on other applications too. On the other hand, commuters welcomed the expansion of bike taxi service. “Autorickshaw and cab drivers now talk about legality, but many overcharge, refuse rides and fleece passengers. “They are operating illegally, and we have asked our squads to intensify checks and enforcement drives. Action was also being taken against bike taxi riders in Pimpri Chinchwad. The move came after Rapido continued offering the bike taxi option despite an FIR against it. Download the TOI App.
Members of the Rickshaw Panchayat and other unions staged a protest outside the Pune collector’s office on Wednesday, demanding action against the companies. TOI sent a query to Uber on WhatsApp on Tuesday. On Tuesday, we noticed the option on Uber as well.