Traditional taxi operators on Wednesday lodged strong protest against operation of services by taxi aggregators (Ola and others) at the Mangaluru International Airport. Later, they decided to raise the issue of alleged violation of rules by aggregators in the forthcoming meeting of the regional transport authority.
A meeting between the Bajpe police, taxi operators and the airport director remained inconclusive as representatives of Ola reportedly did not attend the meeting. Airport Director J.T. Radhakrishna told The Hindu that the airport did not have any objection for taxi operations to and from the airport, provided they are as per the rules.
Dakshina Kannada District Taximen and Maxicab Association President K. Monappa Bhandary told The Hindu that the government has been sitting quite despite being directed by the Karnataka High Court to frame suitable rules for taxi aggregators. He alleged that the transport department, including the Mangaluru Regional Transport Office, has failed to ensure the aggregators adhered to rules.
Taxi operators in Mangaluru have been alleging unfair trade practices by taxi aggregators who charge below the prescribed rates by the government. The Association has claimed that aggregators are attempting to create a monopoly by eliminating individual operators.
Mr. Bhandary said that traditional taxi operators would intensify their protest if the government fails to frame suitable rules immediately. Association’s General Secretary Ananda demanded a blanket ban on aggregators in small cities like Mangaluru.
Association’s state-level office bearer K. Radhakrishna Holla told The Hindu that even the Delhi High Court had recently directed the Delhi administration not to allow aggregators to continue the operations without framing any rules.
Sources in the transport department said that the department was waiting a clear direction from the Union government as to whether bring aggregators under the Motor Vehicles Act or the Information Technology Act. Majority of the state governments preferred the MV Act and the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is yet to issue clear guidelines, sources said.
