Maharashtra Transport Minister Seeks Shutdown of Illegal Bike Taxi Apps
Transport minister writes to cyber police seeking shutdown of bike taxi apps
Hindustan Times
Image: Hindustan Times
Maharashtra's Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik has requested the state's cybercrime department to shut down illegal bike taxi apps like Rapido, Ola, and Uber due to safety concerns and regulatory violations. The move follows a rise in unauthorized services operating without proper permissions, posing risks to passenger safety.
- 01Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik has written to the cybercrime department to shut down illegal bike taxi apps.
- 02The crackdown is due to safety concerns and regulatory violations by platforms like Rapido, Ola, and Uber.
- 03Unauthorized bike taxis have surged in Maharashtra, lacking necessary permissions and safety measures.
- 04An incident in November 2025 highlighted the dangers of unregulated services, leading to a fatal accident.
- 05The state previously granted provisional licenses to bike taxi companies, which were later revoked for non-compliance.
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Maharashtra's Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik has formally requested the state's cybercrime department to shut down illegal bike taxi apps, citing safety concerns and regulatory violations. In a letter sent on Tuesday, Sarnaik expressed alarm over the rise of unauthorized bike taxi services, which have been operating without the necessary permissions and government approvals. He emphasized that these services lack crucial passenger safety measures, including proper driver verification, insurance, and emergency response protocols, putting passengers at risk. The urgency of this crackdown was underscored by a tragic incident in November 2025, where a woman died in an accident involving an unauthorized bike taxi. Sarnaik noted that complaints against illegal bike taxi services have been reported across various police stations in Maharashtra. The transport department has raised issues regarding these companies conducting commercial operations in violation of transport laws, adversely affecting licensed auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers. The minister has called for strict legal action against the companies and their drivers under the Information Technology Act and the Motor Vehicles Act. This initiative follows a previous attempt to regulate bike taxi services through provisional licenses granted in September 2022, which were revoked in March 2023 due to non-compliance with the Maharashtra Bike-Taxi Rules 2025.
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This crackdown on illegal bike taxi services aims to enhance passenger safety and ensure compliance with transport regulations, potentially affecting the livelihoods of unauthorized operators.
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