Bike Taxis Coming to Maharashtra: New Policy to be Approved Soon for Statewide Launch
Bike Taxis Coming to Maharashtra: New Policy to be Approved Soon for Statewide Launch
The Maharashtra government plans to roll out bike taxi services statewide by April, as the Transport Department has already submitted a policy proposal for cabinet approval. Once the policy is approved, the official rules and guidelines will be announced, allowing the service to commence.
“A cabinet approval is expected shortly, and once that occurs, the draft rules will be published. Since this initiative was evaluated by the Chief Minister as part of the 100-day program, we believe bike taxis will be up and running by April,” stated a senior transport official.
According to officials, the new policy will permit bike taxis to operate in all cities, including areas like South Mumbai, which were previously considered for exemptions. The government also aims to promote women riders by implementing features such as a small partition behind female drivers for added safety.
Bike taxis, which usually accommodate one passenger, are expected to offer an affordable transportation option, with fares potentially as low as 3 per kilometer. Similar services are already available in cities like Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Chennai.
The Centre had approved bike taxis two years ago, allowing states to create regulations and issue licenses. However, the rollout in Maharashtra faced delays due to opposition from various transport organizations.
The Pune Regional Transport Office (RTO) had initially refused to authorize Rapido for bike taxi operations in Maharashtra in 2022. Rapido challenged the RTO’s decision in the Bombay High Court. In January 2023, the court dismissed Rapido’s petition, stating it lacked merit. The court highlighted that Rapido’s operations required proper licensing and full compliance.
The state formed a committee to create a policy for bike (two-wheeler) taxi aggregators. During the discussions, prominent auto and taxi unions expressed their opposition. They argued that bike taxis are categorized as ‘non-transport’ vehicles, which means they are not subject to the same permit requirements as kaali-peeli taxis or auto rickshaws.
The unions raised concerns about road safety, passenger welfare, and the potential increase in air and noise pollution caused by petrol-powered bikes being used as aggregators. However, by June 2024, the state government, under the leadership of then Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, approved the operation of bike taxis.
