Bengaluru chokes on commute chaos post the bike taxi ban

After a week of the bike taxi ban in Bengaluru by the Karnataka government, not only has it been reported that the traffic has increased by 18 per cent, but also auto fares have skyrocketed. “I mean, what’s with this auto mafia in Bengaluru that seems to be never-ending? Just after the Bike Taxi was banned, the rates have become unbearable,” shares a user (@IpsitaPanda19) on X.
“At 700/day for 2-way commute by Auto, that’s almost India’s per capita income..Wasn’t the zero-commission model supposed to reduce prices? How did we end up with surging prices?” questioned another resident in Bengaluru on X.

A sharp rise in Bengaluru’s traffic
According to TomTom, a Netherlands-based location technology firm, there is a clear rise in traffic congestion during peak hours. The data shows an increase in traffic by 18 per cent throughout the day, and during peak hours, it jumps to a whopping 22 per cent.

1,000+ auto drivers booked in two days
Days after the bike taxi ban, autorickshaw drivers were booked by Bengaluru police for violating rules, lack of proper documentation, overcharging and refusal to ply. Reportedly, over 1,000 cases were filed against auto drivers in two days.

Post-bike taxi ban blues in Karnataka

• Over 6 lakh riders are out of income due to the bike taxi ban
• Traffic has worsened, as more and more people are using their vehicles
• Auto drivers demand more money over fare and added tips through apps
• The ban disrupted metro accessibility as commuters struggles with the last-mile
• Auto fares have become significantly costlier than cab charges
• Longer traffic jams are fuelling a rise in road rage P