Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (HB)

Udupi, Nov 24: Members of Udupi district taxi association on Tuesday November 24 staged a strong protest at the DC Office, against unauthorised taxis and installation of speed governors.

Addressing the protesters, former MLA and president of the association, Raghupati Bhat said, "The main reason for the protest is the private vehicles which are operating as taxis. This is against the law. Almost 600 private vehicles are being used in this manner and evading the government tax. Because of this, the income to be paid to the government is being deviated by the private owners.

"The taxi association members who follow the policy are faced with difficulty to earn their livelihood because of this. The insurance for the tourists who meet in the accident while travelling in the private vehicles never tend to get it," he said.

He further said, "The government has also ordered to install the speed governors which cost Rs 18,000. The old and poor drivers cannot afford to bear these additional expenses. The association members claim that there is a conspiracy against the taxi drivers from the government."

Other demands of the protestors included allocation of adequate parking space to the vehicles at different locations in Udupi district, colour coding for auto rickshaws which run beyond city limits and to distant places, and proper regulations for three-wheelers and private buses hired for wedding and other occasions.

The taxi services were suspended for the day.

Shanmugappa, president, Lorry owners’ association, Prakash Adiga, general secretary, Ramesh Kotian, Balakrishna Shetty, CITU district secretary and others were present.