‘How many go by the meter?’: Mohandas Pai slams Bengaluru auto drivers seeking public support

Former Infosys CFO Mohandas Pai criticised Bengaluru auto drivers for refusing to operate by the meter, questioning why citizens should support them.

Former Infosys CFO Mohandas Pai has launched a sharp attack on Bengaluru’s auto drivers, accusing many of refusing to follow government-mandated meter fares and questioning why the public should support them at all.

Pai’s remarks came after an auto drivers’ association wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, demanding a ban on bike taxi services in Bengaluru. Reacting to the letter, Pai took to X and asked why citizens should back auto drivers when many allegedly overcharge passengers instead of running by the meter. He said several drivers routinely demand inflated fares and “extort money,” adding that such behaviour makes their demand for public sympathy difficult to justify.

The renewed debate comes in the backdrop of bike taxis returning to Bengaluru’s roads after the Karnataka High Court lifted the ban on app-based two-wheeler taxi services in January this year. Auto unions have strongly opposed the decision, arguing that bike taxis directly threaten their livelihoods and reduce daily earnings.

Auto driver associations had earlier staged protests against bike taxi operators and ride-hailing platforms such as Rapido and Uber, which offer two-wheeler taxi options. In the past, these protests have occasionally escalated into confrontations, with reports of bike taxi riders being physically attacked by auto drivers in parts of Karnataka.

Last year, the Karnataka transport department had issued notices to bike taxi operators, declaring their services illegal under existing laws. The department maintained that only vehicles registered as commercial and holding valid permits could be used to transport passengers for hire, leading to a halt in bike taxi operations across the state.

The ban significantly impacted app-based services like Rapido and Uber Moto, which had gained popularity for offering quick and affordable travel, especially in traffic-congested cities like Bengaluru.

However, the situation changed in January when the Karnataka High Court overturned the earlier prohibition. A division bench allowed appeals against the single-bench order that had stopped bike taxi services, clearing the way for their resumption, subject to conditions that the state government may impose.