Maharashtra Cracks Down On Ola, Uber, Rapido Bike Taxi Operations
Maharashtra has intensified action against bike taxi services operated by Ola, Uber and Rapido over alleged illegal operations and safety concerns.
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The Maharashtra government has intensified its action against app-based bike taxi services operated by platforms such as Ola, Uber and Rapido, maintaining that bike taxi operations are not legally permitted in the state.
According to reports, Maharashtra transport minister Pratap Sarnaik earlier this week directed the cyber crime department to shut down unauthorised bike taxi applications operated by aggregators and register cases against the owners of these firms.
As part of the action, Maharashtra’s cyber department reportedly issued notices to Apple and Google on Friday asking them to remove Ola, Uber and Rapido applications from their app stores over alleged illegal bike taxi operations, Hindustan Times reported.
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Safety Concerns Underlined:
However, according to reports, the move was temporarily put on hold on Saturday as authorities explored alternative methods to stop bike taxi services without affecting other transport services available on the same applications, including cabs and auto-rickshaw bookings.
A senior official quoted in reports said the government was attempting to find a solution that would specifically halt bike taxi operations while allowing other ride-hailing services to continue functioning.
According to the notice issued by authorities, app-based bike taxi services have allegedly been operating passenger transport services on a large scale without obtaining the necessary government approvals or complying with transport regulations and provisions under the Motor Vehicles Act.
The notice also raised concerns regarding inadequate passenger safety measures, including driver verification systems, insurance protection, women’s safety protocols and emergency response mechanisms.
Authorities further alleged that rash and negligent driving associated with some bike taxi operations poses a significant public safety risk.
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Bike Taxis Face Scrutiny:
The notice also referred to a recent fatal incident involving an unauthorised bike taxi service in Mumbai’s Bandra Link Road area on April 22 in which a woman reportedly lost her life.
According to reports, the government said several similar criminal cases involving bike taxi operations have been registered in different parts of Maharashtra.
In his communication to police officials, Sarnaik reportedly stated that unauthorised bike taxi operations were openly violating government regulations while carrying out financial transactions in the state.
He also said such operations negatively impact the livelihoods of licensed taxi and auto-rickshaw drivers already operating within the regulated transport ecosystem.
The minister added that app-based bike taxi services currently lack adequate safeguards for passengers and continue to raise concerns around safety compliance and accountability.
The development reflects increasing regulatory scrutiny of app-based mobility platforms as governments across India continue debating the legality, safety standards and operational frameworks surrounding bike taxi services.
