In response to the protest, Mahendra Sahu, IIC of Infocity police station, said, "We are aware of the concerns raised by auto-rickshaw drivers. Discussions will be held with all stakeholders to find a solution."Hundreds of auto-rickshaw drivers took to the streets Tuesday staging a protest against the growing presence of bike transport services and online aggregators. They alleged that these services are leading to substantial financial losses, thus impacting their livelihood.
The protest, held at several locations including Infocity Square and Omfed Square, witnessed a large turnout of auto-rickshaw drivers carrying out picketing and stopping vehicles carrying passengers through online aggregators. They demanded immediate govt intervention for those violating the rules and using private vehicles without commercial registration. The drivers called for a ban or stricter regulation of online transport services, claiming the unregulated operations were eating into their fares.
"Our income has dropped drastically since these bike taxi services started," said Prakash Behera, an auto-rickshaw driver, who is in the trade for over 15 years. "They offer lower fares, and passengers are choosing them over us. We cannot compete with their pricing, and it's becoming impossible to feed our families," he said.
They also expressed concerns about the lack of licensing and adherence to traffic norms by bike taxi operators. "While we are required to follow strict rules, pay taxes, and maintain our vehicles, these bike taxis operate without proper checks. This is unfair," said Ramesh Nayak, another protester.
The Bhubaneswar Auto-Rickshaw Drivers' Association submitted a memorandum to the transport commissioner, demanding an urgent review of the policies governing online transport aggregators. "We are not against competition, but it should be fair. We urge the govt to regulate these services and ensure our livelihood is protected," said Deepak Mohanty, another auto-rickshaw driver.
In response to the protest, Mahendra Sahu, IIC of Infocity police station, said, "We are aware of the concerns raised by auto-rickshaw drivers. Discussions will be held with all stakeholders to find a solution."
The protest disrupted traffic in parts of the city for several hours, causing inconvenience to commuters. Many passengers expressed mixed reactions, with some sympathising with drivers and others preferring the affordability of bike taxis.
