BENGALURU, 6 MARCH

Hundreds of drivers in the private transport sector, including members of the Auto Rickshaw Drivers’ Union (ARDU), gathered at Freedom Park on Thursday, warning of an indefinite strike if the state government failed to fulfil their long-pending demands.

The protest, led by the Federation of Karnataka State Private Transport Associations and supported by the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), highlighted rising frustration over the government’s inaction on key issues impacting private transport workers.

Their main demand is a blanket ban on bike taxis, which unions allege are affecting their livelihoods. Other demands include slashing road tax for private buses and a ‘one city, one fare’ policy to regulate pricing across transport modes.

A member of the ARDU said, "Operational expenses and the prices of new auto-rickshaws have skyrocketed. The fares have not been revised since 2021,” he said.

The current fare per kilometre is Rs 15, and ARDU’s demand is to increase it to Rs 20.

Federation President S Nataraj Sharma reminded the government of the Bengaluru bandh on 11 September, 2023, raising 30 demands. Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy resolved 24 of them, but four crucial demands remain unaddressed, he said.

ARDU President M Manjunath announced plans for a night-long protest, pushing for a Rs 500-crore welfare fund for Road Transport Corporation (RTC) drivers.