Maharashtra Motor Vehicle Aggregator Policy 2025 Draft Receives 160 Suggestions and Objections
Maharashtra Motor Vehicle Aggregator Policy 2025 Draft Receives 160 Suggestions and Objections
The draft of the Maharashtra Motor Vehicle Aggregator Policy 2025 has received 160 suggestions and objections from across the state. The transport department is currently reviewing these submissions, and constructive feedback will be incorporated into the final policy. The draft is expected to be finalised and sent to the Transport Ministry for approval within the next week.
According to the state transport department, app-based companies such as Ola, Uber, and Rapido have been operating in violation of existing regulations, despite mandatory compliance norms. Numerous complaints have been lodged regarding alleged unfair practices by these companies. Over the past two to three months, several gig worker organisations, along with autorickshaw and cab driver associations associated with app-based platforms, staged protests at Azad Maidan against the exploitation of drivers.
Following these protests, Transport Minister Pratap Sarnayak initiated the framing of a new version of the Maharashtra Motor Vehicle Aggregator Policy. A notification in October 2025 outlined the draft policy, which requires aggregator companies to obtain a licence either from the State Transport Authority (STA) or the Regional Transport Office (RTO). The draft proposes a licence fee of ₹10 lakh for STA-level operations and ₹2 lakh for RTO-level operations, with renewal fees of ₹25,000 and ₹5,000 respectively. Aggregators will also need to deposit a security amount based on the number of vehicles they operate.
The policy includes provisions to improve passenger safety, driver welfare, and service quality. It limits drivers to a maximum of 12 hours of app-based work per day and mandates a minimum rest period of 10 hours, along with guidelines on vehicle age and operational standards. However, various transport and driver associations have raised objections, calling these restrictions impractical.
Vivek Bhimanwar, State Transport Commissioner, said, “The Maharashtra Motor Vehicle Aggregator Policy has been designed to regulate app-based aggregator companies operating in the state. We have received 160 suggestions and objections from across Maharashtra. All constructive feedback will be studied and included in the final draft. This new policy will help bring in transparency, improve safety, and balance the relationship between passengers and drivers.”
