Maharashtra Proposes EV Mandate and Welfare Levy for Delivery Platforms

Maharashtra, India – The state government is contemplating new regulations that could significantly impact the operations of food and e-commerce platforms such as Swiggy, Zomato, and Zepto. The proposed amendments would bring these companies under the existing framework for motorcycle taxis.

Under the proposed rules, platforms would be required to mandate drivers' use of electric vehicles (EVs), implement GPS-based tracking for drivers and vehicles, and provide insurance coverage. Additionally, 2% of each trip's fare would be contributed to a driver welfare fund, intended to finance benefits like pensions and accident insurance.

The proposed changes would, for the first time, bring food delivery, quick commerce, and e-commerce platforms under Maharashtra's bike-taxi regulatory structure. Currently, these businesses operate primarily under central laws, with no specific state-level framework.

The proposal is currently under review by Maharashtra's law and judiciary department. The state also plans to launch a dedicated portal for real-time tracking of vehicles operating under the bike-taxi framework. This move by Maharashtra follows similar efforts in other Indian states, such as Karnataka, to regulate gig work and enhance social security for platform workers, though such regulations have faced legal challenges from platforms citing increased operating costs.