Maharashtra proposes temporary fee for bike taxi services
Maharashtra plans to introduce a ₹5 daily fee and a 2% fare contribution for illegally operating bike taxis, effective August 1. This temporary measure aims to regulate services before a formal electric bike taxi policy is implemented.
Mumbai, India – The Maharashtra government has proposed a temporary regulatory framework for bike taxi services operating illegally within the state, introducing a daily fee and a contribution to a driver welfare fund. This move precedes the full implementation of the state's electric bike taxi policy.
Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik announced yesterday that illegal bike taxi operators will be required to pay a daily fee of ₹5 (approximately $0.06 USD) starting August 1. Additionally, 2% of the fare from each ride will be directed to a welfare fund for bike taxi drivers, to be administered by the state government. The proposal has been sent to the state law and judiciary department for approval.
Sarnaik stated that this temporary measure will remain in effect until the dedicated electric vehicle (EV) bike taxi policy is fully implemented. The state had previously taken a firm stance, even asking app stores to delist ride-hailing apps like Uber and Rapido in May, though the order was revoked the next day. The new framework, set to begin August 1, will involve issuing permits to bike taxi services, requiring drivers to hold a domicile certificate, obtain a government-issued badge, and operate through registered aggregators.
The government estimates that between 4 to 4.5 lakh app-based bike taxis are currently operating in Maharashtra without valid permissions. This new framework aims to regularize these operations, which have previously fallen outside specific regulatory oversight. Last year, Maharashtra had notified rules permitting only electric bike taxis, leading to enforcement actions against platforms like Uber and Rapido for operating petrol-powered vehicles.