Maharashtra Govt Orders Crackdown On Illegal Bike Taxi Services Like Ola, Uber And Rapido
Maharashtra Govt Orders Crackdown On Illegal Bike Taxi Services Like Ola, Uber And Rapido
Mumbai, May 13, 2026: The Maharashtra government has taken a strong stand against unauthorised bike taxi services operating across the state and has ordered strict action against platforms such as Ola, Uber and Rapido. Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik has directed authorities to immediately shut down illegal bike taxi operations and file FIRs against the owners and management of such companies.
The Transport Department has written to the Cyber Crime Department seeking immediate action against unauthorised bike taxi applications allegedly operating without valid permissions, government approval, or compliance with transport regulations. Transport Commissioner officials have also sent a separate communication to the Cyber Crime Department regarding the issue.
According to the minister, the increasing number of illegal bike taxis, especially services operated through apps like Rapido, has become a serious public safety concern. The government stated that these platforms are providing passenger transport services without following mandatory transport rules and regulations.
The letter further highlighted major concerns regarding passenger safety, including lack of driver verification, inadequate insurance coverage, insufficient safety measures for women, and weak emergency response systems. The government warned that such deficiencies could put commuters’ lives at risk.
The minister also referred to a fatal accident that took place on November 29, 2025, on the Mulund Link Road involving an unauthorised bike taxi, in which a woman lost her life. An FIR was registered at Navghar Police Station in connection with the incident, while similar cases have reportedly been registered at various police stations across the state.
Apart from safety concerns, the government noted that these bike taxi services are allegedly conducting commercial operations in violation of transport laws, adversely affecting the livelihood of licensed auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers. Calling the situation a serious challenge to the state’s transport system, the minister demanded immediate suspension of online operations of unauthorised bike taxi apps and strict action against the companies, drivers, and management under the Information Technology Act and the Motor Vehicles Act.
