Bike taxis banned on Tirumala ghat roads

Tirupati: Pilgrims relying on app-based bike taxis for an economical ride to Tirumala will now have to look for other options after the TTD prohibited commercial bike taxi services on the ghat roads.

The decision by the Tirumala-Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) comes after a fatal accident on the hill route in which a bike taxi rider was killed and the pillion passenger suffered critical injuries. Following the incident, the temple administration directed its vigilance and security wing to prevent commercial bike taxis from entering Tirumala.

The restriction covers bike taxi services booked through platforms such as Rapido, Ola and Uber. However, pilgrims travelling in their own two-wheelers have not been brought under the ban and can continue to use the ghat roads.

The TTD has already put up warning posters at the Alipiri checkpost declaring that app-based bike taxi services are “Not Allowed”.

Security and inspection personnel have been instructed to identify such vehicles and stop them from proceeding towards Tirumala.

The temple administration is also engaging with app-based ride-hailing companies to explore measures to prevent bookings with Tirumala as the destination for bike taxi services. Officials said the move is intended specifically to stop commercial bike taxi operations on the ghat roads and not to restrict pilgrims using private two-wheelers.

The decision has, however, drawn criticism from the Centre for Liberty (CFL), which has appealed to Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu to reconsider the restriction.

CFL president N Chakravarthy said the ban could make the journey more expensive for ordinary pilgrims, especially those who cannot afford private cars or taxis.

The organisation said safety concerns should be addressed through tighter regulation rather than a complete ban.

It questioned the distinction between private two-wheelers and app-based bike taxis and suggested that riders with a record of serious accidents or traffic violations could be barred from using the ghat roads.

The CFL also proposed making GPS tracking and cameras compulsory for commercial bikes and riders operating on the route. It called for app-based companies to be made accountable for providing immediate assistance, insurance and medical support to passengers in the event of accidents.

While the TTD has taken the restriction as a safety measure following the fatal incident, the CFL has urged the authorities to retain the relatively affordable transport option by introducing stricter safety and accountability measures instead of a blanket ban.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Pradeep Vennelakanti

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