Permit mandatory, strict action possible; Predicament for Kerala's bike taxi drivers

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The bike taxi service that recently started in the city is now in a quagmire. The requirement of a mandatory permit proved to be a hurdle for many. Currently, most of the bike taxi drivers on platforms like Uber and Rapido are ordinary youth and students. With their current income, obtaining a permit is out of the question for many.

However, the auto and taxi workers, who have legal taxi permits and pay taxes, complain that the operation of bike taxis is seriously affecting their income. The availability of bike taxis at low rates in cities has attracted auto passengers. There have been incidents of auto and bike taxi drivers quarrelling on the roads. Therefore, the demand has surged for taxi permits to be made mandatory for bike taxis as well.

Motor Vehicle Department officials said that there are no legal restrictions in Kerala on issuing permits to bikes and that they can operate by obtaining a taxi permit or an aggregated license. However, the financial loss faced while obtaining the permit is what is plaguing bike taxi employees.

The insurance amount will increase with the taxi permit. Every year, a fitness test and taxes will have to be paid. Bike taxi employees said that if they pay this much amount to the government from the small income they currently receive, the job itself will be meaningless.