Karnataka to challenge bike-taxi ruling citing safety concerns

The Karnataka government is preparing to mount a legal challenge against a High Court decision that allowed bike-taxi services to operate in the state, with the Solicitor-General set to represent its interests in the matter. The state's opposition centres on concerns that the court's order fails to adequately address the safety risks inherent in using motorcycles for commercial passenger transport.

Karnataka's position emphasizes that motorcycles do not meet the safety standards necessary for regular passenger transportation services. The government points to documented evidence regarding higher accident fatality rates associated with two-wheeler transport compared to conventional taxi services, raising questions about public welfare implications of the ruling.

Beyond safety considerations, the state has flagged traffic and congestion concerns stemming from bike-taxi proliferation on city roads. Officials argue that unregulated expansion of motorcycle-based taxi services could exacerbate existing urban mobility challenges, particularly in congested metropolitan areas.

The case represents a broader policy tension between regulatory authorities seeking to maintain transportation safety standards and proponents of alternative mobility solutions. The Solicitor-General's intervention signals the state's commitment to challenging the court's decision through formal legal proceedings.