Mangaluru, Jul 2: The strife between traditional taxi drivers in the coastal city, who are known for overcharging customers, and newly entered Ola cab service has been exacerbated with Dakshina Kannada taxi Men’s and Maxicab Association accusing the Ola cabs of illegally operating in Mangaluru.
The Association would stage a protest in front of the office of Deputy Commissioner in the city on Friday, demanding for an enquiry and action against the alleged “illegal operation” of Ola cab in the city. A vehicle rally would be taken out from Jyothi circle to Nehru Maidan in the morning and after parking the vehicles the agitators would march towards the protest venue.
Announcing this at a press conference here on Thursday, the Association’s working president U N Pramodh Kumar alleged that Ola cabs neither possess city taxi permission nor follow the state motor vehicle act.
“Ola cabs have been charging very less amount for their service in Mangaluru and thus they are trying to establish a monopoly in the city. An ordinary taxi man who earns his life bread through this profession cannot survive by charging mere Rs 150 for a drive from Airport to Mangaluru city. But Ola cabs are doing this with the help of illegal money,” he accused demanding an enquiry in this regard.
He said that the government should take necessary steps to protect the interests of taxi drivers in the city and warned that any kind of negligence would fuel a state wide agitation.
Association’s president K Monappa Bhandary, Uduppi District Taxi Men’s Association president Raghupathi Bhat, Federation of Karnataka State Lorry Owners and Agents Association president G. R. Shanmukhappa, Karnataka State Taxi Men’s and Maxicab Association president K. G. Raveendra will lead Friday’s protest.
Association secretary Anand K, Treasurer Udaya Kumar, organising secretary Sukesh were also present on the occasion.
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