Karnataka government plans to launch a cab aggregator app similar to Ola, Uber

Karnataka’s transport minister Rama Linga Reddy said that the government is planning to start an app like cab aggregators Ola and Uber. The decision came after taxi and auto unions met the minister and expressed their concerns. The minister also said that he will discuss the concerns of the unions with the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

The minister said, “The cab drivers are facing many hurdles due to high commissions of cab aggregators. The government has heard their issues and we also have a plan to launch an app for them where cab rides can be booked through the app.”

Bengaluru’s Auto Rickshaw Drivers Union (ARDU) had introduced an app last year named Namma Yatri, which became popular among the auto commuters. The app was launched in competition to apps like Ola, Uber and Rapido.

The auto unions have also brought into notice the need to ban illegal bike taxis which run with whiteboards and conveyed how the Shakti scheme is hitting their livelihood. They also requested compensation against the Shakti scheme.     

The transport minister then said, “The main concern of private transportation owners is that their revenue took a hit, ever since the Shakti scheme was launched in the state. They also demand a ban on bike taxis in Karnataka, which is affecting their livelihood. We will have to seek a legal opinion on their bike taxi ban demand. Welfare board for drivers, insurance for auto drivers and lifetime tax on commercial goods vehicles are among the other demands.”

This is the second meeting of the unions with the transport minister in the last week. They announced a strike on July 27 and they later decided to call off the strike as their demands were heard by the government in the first meeting. They also reportedly asked for a meeting with the Chief Minister in August.