Bike taxis are not approved in the state: Min

Transport minister Sivasankar said that the state government has not yet approved the bike taxi system in the state.
The minister along with electricity minister V Senthil Balaji distributed financial benefits to the retired employees of the transport department during an event organized at Saibaba colony bus depot in the city.
Speaking to reporters, transport minister Sivasankar said, “Financial benefits worth Rs 145.58 crore was distributed to 518 retired employees in the city. We have allocated air conditioned retiring rooms to drivers and conductors in Coimbatore, Erode and Tirupur regions. We have also installed GPS installed bus stop indicators in government buses and flagged off some of them on the first phase. Not even a single driver or conductor were appointed in the last five years and the Covid-19 pandemic had worsened the situation. It is only after the DMK formed the government, the Chief Minister announced the appointment of drivers and conductors. As a result, arrangements have been made to appoint staff in SETC and Kumbakonam government transport corporation. We have allocated additional funds to maintain the buses and talks are on to allocate additional funds.”
Explaining that the state government has allocated funds to procure 2000 buses and tenders have been floated for the same, he said that works have begun to procure 2400 buses with the help of KMW bank and the buses would become operational within four to six months.
When asked about bike taxis, the minister said, “recognition to operate bikes on rental basis has not yet been granted. It is prohibited in the state and police officials have been conducting surprise checks at several places.”
In Chennai city tenders have been floated to procure equipment to get online tickets and once it is tested and approved, it would be extended to other districts, he added.
Coimbatore collector Kranthikumar Pati, city mayor Kalpana Anandkumar, deputy mayor Vetriselvan and others were present at the event.