The Maharashtra government has announced that it will begin issuing permits for app-based bike taxi services from August 1, marking a significant policy shift aimed at bringing the rapidly growing sector under a regulated legal framework.
At the same time, authorities have made it clear that strict action against unauthorised bike taxi operators will continue until the new licensing process is completed.
The announcement was made in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly by Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik while responding to a question raised by Shiv Sena MLA Dilip Lande regarding the increasing number of unlicensed bike taxis operating across the state.
Sarnaik said the government has notified the Maharashtra Bike Taxi Rules, 2025, which establish the legal framework for commercial bike taxi operations. Under the new regulations, operators will have to obtain licences and comply with prescribed safety, insurance and transport permit requirements before carrying passengers.
The minister emphasised that the government is not opposed to bike taxi services but wants them to function within a regulated system that prioritises commuter safety.
Until licences are issued, the Transport Department, Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) and Mumbai Traffic Police will continue joint enforcement drives against vehicles operating without valid permits. Authorities are also issuing online challans and initiating legal proceedings wherever required.
According to Sarnaik, an estimated 4 lakh to 4.5 lakh app-based bike taxis are currently operating in Maharashtra without legal authorisation.
"The government is not receiving any revenue from these services. We have now formulated a new policy to regulate the sector," he told the Assembly.
The proposed framework requires aggregators to pay Rs 5 per ride to the state government while contributing 2 per cent of every fare to a welfare fund managed by the State Transport Authority.
Permits will be granted only to applicants holding a Maharashtra domicile certificate. Drivers must also obtain the required commercial licence, government-issued badge and meet all other prescribed eligibility conditions before they are allowed to transport passengers.
The policy proposal has already been sent to the Law and Judiciary Department for approval. Sarnaik said the government expects clearance by the end of July, enabling the new system to take effect from August 1.
The minister noted that several digital platforms have been facilitating commercial passenger services without obtaining transport permits under the Motor Vehicles Act, making their operations illegal.
Between April and May 2026, enforcement agencies seized 824 unauthorised bike taxis, registered 151 FIRs and collected Rs 16.25 lakh in penalties.
During the earlier period from April 2025 to March 2026, officials seized 221 vehicles, released 66 after completing legal formalities and recovered Rs 2.31 lakh in fines. No FIRs were registered during that period.
Despite repeated enforcement drives, app-based bike taxi services have continued operating across many parts of Maharashtra. Sarnaik admitted that regulating national aggregators such as Rapido, Ola and Uber has been challenging because they operate through common digital platforms across multiple states.
The minister said the new policy is intended to improve passenger safety, generate revenue for the state and provide welfare benefits to drivers while creating employment opportunities for local residents.
Commercial bike taxis will be required to comply with transport permit rules, insurance norms and other statutory safety standards before they are allowed to operate legally.
During the Assembly discussion, Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Sunil Prabhu expressed concern over the behaviour of some app-based drivers. He alleged that he had witnessed Ola and Uber drivers operating vehicles under the influence of alcohol or narcotic substances, particularly at night.
Prabhu also claimed that delivery riders working for food delivery platforms frequently violate traffic rules and called for stricter enforcement.
Responding to these concerns, Sarnaik assured the House that the Transport Department would launch a special drive against traffic violations and take action against erring drivers.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Ajya Choudhary also raised concerns about communication issues involving app-based drivers, stating that many are unable to understand or speak even basic Hindi in addition to Marathi.
The minister acknowledged the issue, adding that the forthcoming regulatory framework would introduce clearer eligibility requirements for drivers, helping improve service quality and passenger experience across the state.
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