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.