Bike taxi riders detained during protest at Vidhana Soudha against suspension of services
Bengaluru, Jun 21 (PTI): A group of bike taxi riders protesting outside the Vidhana Soudha here on Saturday against the suspension of its operations following a Karnataka High Court directive, were detained by the police here.
They sought urgent government intervention to lift the blanket ban and introduce a regulatory framework to govern bike taxi services.
According to the police, soon after they gathered in front of Vidhana Soudha, they were detained and dispersed from the spot by the police.
A case has also been registered against them for violating guidelines and attempting to protest in front of Vidhana Soudha without any prior permission.
The riders urged the state government to introduce a clear policy that would allow them to resume operations while addressing safety and regulatory concerns.
They stressed that bike taxis are an important part of Karnataka’s transport ecosystem, providing jobs to thousands. Riders believe that with the right rules in place, bike taxis can continue to benefit everyone.
Earlier this month, a division bench of the Karnataka High Court refused to stay an earlier single-judge order that suspended bike taxi services in the state. The division bench, comprising Acting Chief Justice V Kameshwar Rao and Justice Sreenivas Harish Kumar, was hearing appeals filed by Uber India Systems Pvt Ltd, ANI Technologies Pvt Ltd (which operates Ola), and Roppen Transportation Services Pvt Ltd (which operates Rapido), among others.
The companies had challenged the April 2 ruling that directed them to halt bike taxi services within six weeks. The deadline was later extended till June 15. The single judge had observed that such services cannot operate unless the state government notifies specific rules and guidelines under the Motor Vehicles Act.
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Delhi Police announces Safe City expansion, new facilities on 79th Raising Day
New Delhi (PTI): Delhi Police announced a series of infrastructure and technology upgrades under the Safe City Project, including the expansion of surveillance systems and construction of new facilities, on the occasion of its 79th Raising Day.
Officials said that under the project, the Command and Control Centre will be further strengthened and several CCTV cameras have already been installed across the national capital. The surveillance system is equipped with advanced features such as hand-gesture recognition, facial detection and overcrowding alerts to enhance real-time monitoring.
"Mobile command vehicles will also be deployed to improve on-ground coordination during emergencies and major events," a senior police officer said.
The Special Cell headquarters will be constructed in Lodhi Colony to bolster operational efficiency. In addition, three new police stations and six police chowkis will be set up.
A seven-floor hostel for women police personnel will be built in Rohini, with accommodation capacity for 132 staff members, officials said.
