Taxi Drivers Protest Against Ola in Mangaluru

Hundreds of taxi drivers from the Dakshina Kannada district on Friday staged a march and Mangaluru against the operation of mobile app-based Ola cab services.

The march was accompanied by around 100 taxis. The protest was organized by DK District Taximen and Maxicab Association, with other transport organisations.

The protesters later held a meeting in front of the Deputy Commissioner's office.

Addressing the gathering, former MLC and Mangaluru Taximen Association President Monappa Bhandary said the operation of Ola services were affecting the livelihood of taxi drivers.

He said that despite frequent pleas to the Deputy Commissioner and the Regional Transport Officer against the Ola cabs, no step had been taken so far.

The "negative attitude" of the administration could no longer be tolerated, he said, adding that the agitation would be intensified if immediate action was not taken against Ola services.

Karnataka state tourist vehicle owners' association President K G Ravindra, said private companies were trying to monopolise the taxi service sector, putting taxi drivers to hardship.

Airport Taxi Drivers Association Secretary Radhakrishna Holla, Mangaluru Travel Owners' Association President Roshan Pinto, Taximen Association Secretary K Anand and Udupi Taximen Association secretary Ramesh Kotian were present.

Separately, Ratan Tata, chairman emeritus of the holding company of India's Tata conglomerate, has bought a stake in online taxi-hailing firm Ola, the company said on Wednesday.

Ola late last month started integrating TaxiForSure's services into its own app. To recall, Ola back in March acquired TaxiForSure for $200 million (roughly Rs. 1,240 crores).