The Maharashtra government has lifted a ban on renting bicycles after nine years. The decision is expected to help tourists, locals, and young people looking for work.
The transport department has made policy changes. Operators must now get a licence that costs INR 1,000 per year. They also need to rent out at least five bikes to join the programme. Only rentals within city or district limits will be allowed. Other details are still being decided.
The rent-a-bike scheme was started by the central government in 1997. It was used in Maharashtra but without any control or clear rules. There were no checks in place, like licence approvals.
In 2016, then-transport minister Diwakar Raote stopped the scheme. This was done to stop unregulated rentals, especially in tourist areas that had poor transport services. Sources also suggest that politics was involved in the decision. It has been alleged that operators in Konkan were linked to leaders.
Even after the ban, many bike rental businesses kept running without permission. The new rules aim to stop this. Local transport officers were giving out licences instead of the extra chief secretary, who had the actual power. The ban was put in place to fix these issues.
Now, the state wants to regulate the business and help young people earn a living. The transport department said this plan will help places like Konkan. Konkan has beaches, forts, and other tourist spots. But transport services in those areas are not good.
As per sources, the scheme has been approved. Reports also suggest that authorities may act against those renting bikes without licences.