The taxi and auto unions in Jammu and Kashmir have expressed concern over government’s move to launch Uber Taxi Services in the state, which they allege will dent their livelihood and render nearly 67,000 operators jobless.
The state government has been, for past some time, contemplating the launch of the Uber Taxi Service, an American private company headquartered in San Francisco, California, United States, operating in 633 cities worldwide.
In New Delhi, Uber is facing limits with regard to the number of drivers allowed to operate.
“We are not against the development, but there should have been a planned way of launching any service that directly hits the employment of thousands of people. We had requested the Transport Commissioner to keep us in the loop before while taking a call on such development, but nothing was done,” said Manmeet Singh, president, Railway Station Taxi Union.
He said livelihood of nearly three lakh families depended on the taxi and auto services in Jammu and Kashmir.
“We are regular tax payers in different categories, which makes up for nearly Rs 1 crore paid by us,” said Manmeet.
“We can instal computerised offices and effectively manoeuvre the movement of our cabs for customers. The government should provide us with the infrastructure,” he said.
Uber a worry for local taxi operators
