“I’m the Transport Minister”: Maharashtra Minister Books Illegal Bike Taxi Himself to Expose Ongoing Operations in Mumbai
"I'm the Transport Minister": Maharashtra Minister Books Illegal Bike Taxi Himself to Expose Ongoing Operations in Mumbai
Pratap Sarnaik’s undercover ride busts official claim that app-based bike taxis are non-operational in the city
In a dramatic move to verify whether illegal bike taxis are still operating in Mumbai, Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik took matters into his own hands — by booking a ride himself using the Rapido app under a false name. His action came after a senior transport official had assured him that no unauthorised bike taxi services were functional in the city.
To test the claim, Sarnaik booked a ride from Mantralaya to Dadar, and within ten minutes, a bike taxi arrived at the pickup location. The minister then revealed his identity to the surprised rider, stating:
“I am the Transport Minister. These rules are for your benefit.”
He offered the rider ₹500 as fare for the trouble, saying:
“You came here, for that I am giving you ₹500.”
However, the rider refused the money.
Sarnaik clarified that no legal action would be taken against the rider.
“We will not gain anything by filing a case against a poor person like you. But the people behind the illegal operation should be punished. That is our intention,” he said.
This surprise inspection revealed a clear disconnect between the ground reality and what officials had conveyed to the minister. The Maharashtra government has not yet granted approval to any app-based bike taxi operators. As per the state’s e-bike policy, only companies that meet certain conditions will be allowed to operate in cities with populations over 1 lakh. However, these rules are yet to be formally notified, making such services technically illegal.
Last month, the Transport Commissioner’s office lodged an FIR against Rapido and Uber at Azad Maidan Police Station for allegedly running unauthorised bike taxis in the state.
