Bike-taxi drivers urge UT Administration to ease curbs

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Riders seek permits, policy changes to protect livelihoods

Chandigarh, September 28

The Chandigarh App Based Workers Union and Tricity Riders Welfare Society have sought measures to protect the livelihoods of bike taxi riders and delivery workers affected by restrictions on app-based mobility services in Chandigarh.

The organisations submitted a memorandum on Monday to Punjab Governor-cum-Chandigarh Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria. They also submitted memoranda to Transport Department Secretary and STA Diprava Lakra and BJP leader Sanjay Tandon after holding a protest in the city.

The workers said restrictions and disruptions to app-based mobility services had affected the livelihoods of many people dependent on the sector.

Bike taxi riders said they couldn’t continue working despite having valid licenses and other required documents. They said the disruption affected their daily earnings and made it difficult to meet loan and EMI payments.
As an interim measure, the union sought a tax or permit “parchi” system for bike taxi drivers for four to five months until a permanent and comprehensive policy is formulated.

The organisations also sought changes to the existing commercial bike policy, permission for vehicles with All India Permits to operate locally and a separate radio taxi policy for Chandigarh. The groups said they had worked for the welfare and livelihoods of bike taxi riders, delivery partners, cab drivers, and other app-based workers across the Tricity for about five years.