Here are the big stories from Karnataka today
The Karnataka government is challenging a High Court ruling on bike taxis in the Supreme Court, citing safety and congestion concerns. Additionally, two construction workers died in a soil collapse in Bengaluru, and the Forest Department has radio-collared two wild elephants in Hassan.
Why it matters
Covers significant legal, safety, and environmental developments impacting urban policy and public welfare in Karnataka.
The Karnataka government on Tuesday (August 11, 2026) submitted in the Supreme Court that a State High Court decision to allow bike taxis ignores the low safety standards of motorcycles, higher accident fatality rates, congestion, and their limited utility as public transport vehicles. Karnataka, represented by advocate Sanchit Garga, said the restriction on the use of two-wheelers as taxis was reasonable, proportionate, and in public interest .
“The State has not imposed a blanket prohibition on the use of motorcycles for commercial purposes; rather, it has only restricted their use for carrying passengers. Motorcycle riders continue to have viable alternative avenues of livelihood, including under the Karnataka Platform-Based Gig Workers (Social Security and Welfare) Act, 2025, which provides statutory protection and welfare measures for such workers,” Karnataka submitted.
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