Pics: Daya Kukkaje

Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (DV)

Mangaluru, Aug 23: Dakshina Kannada Online Taxi Drivers and Owners Association protested against the harassment on the app-based taxi operators in and around city.

The protest rally was held from Nehru Maidan to Central Railway Station here Tuesday August 23.

Addressing the protestors, association honorary president and DYFI district vice-president B K Imthiaz said, “App-based taxi drivers are facing harassment by a few taxi and auto rickshaw drivers while carrying the passengers from railway station. App-based taxi drivers do not park their cars in the parking. But when they get call, online taxi drivers come to railway station to pick the passengers. Online taxi drivers legally own taxis and they are paying required taxes to the government,”

“A few taxi and auto drivers are harassing and intimidating online taxi service drivers in different ways. But as the administration is silent on this issue, harassment has continued. Police department and the administration should stop this kind of harassment to the online taxi drivers. Association has also filed police complaint on these issues,” he added.

Imthiaz also demanded that administration should provide opportunity for online taxi drivers to pick up the passengers from the railway station. “All taxis which come to the railway station to pick up passengers should be given proper protection. Proper action should be taken against those who indulge in harassing passengers and online taxi drivers. Separate online parking facilities in the railway station should be provided for online taxi drivers.” Imthiaz concluded.

Online taxi service driver Harish speaking to media said "After completion of my education, I obtained a loan from the bank to purchase a taxi. Now I am working as an online taxi driver. When the online taxi drivers bring their vehicles to railway station, we are threatened and harassed. Even the passengers are harassed in some instances.”