Karnataka Government - Ola, Uber Bike Taxis Illegal

The Karnataka has declared that the recently started bike taxi services from Ola and Uber in Bangalore is illegal. The government has also asked commuter to not use the services.

According to a report in the Deccan Herald, the regional transport authority is siezing bikes due to the fact that the companies need to convert the bikes into transport vehicles and have not obtained the required permits to do so. It also stated that the riders need a different license and have not obtained them either.

A senior official told the Deccan Herald that since the rider was riding the vehicle without a badge and yellow board, the vehicle is regarded as a private vehicle and can't be run as a taxi till it is converted into a yellow board transport vehicle.

The Times Of India reports that Ola has declined to comment, but said it categorically mentioned during the launch that Ola Bike Taxi was only a pilot project and there were no regulations to follow in the state on this type of service.