The Maharashtra government has approved carpooling in private vehicles through registered applications or online platforms. This decision was taken at a state cabinet meeting held on Tuesday, April 6.
Carpooling is now allowed in cities like Mumbai, Pune, and other major areas in the state. Carpooling is when people share a private vehicle when travelling on the same route.
Under the new rules, carpooling can only be done using officially registered platforms. Drivers are allowed to make up to 14 carpool trips per week. The cost of the ride will include tolls, fuel, and insurance. However, the total charge must not exceed that of similar taxi services.
Female passengers will have the option to ride with female drivers. This will ensure safety during carpool trips. Drivers must also share the start and end points of their journeys. Both drivers and users must verify their contact details on the app.
The state’s transport department will soon release detailed rules and procedures. The government has also made it clear that insurance is mandatory. This applies to both the driver and the passengers.
Carpooling is expected to reduce traffic on crowded roads in cities like Mumbai. However, officials have expressed concern about resistance from taxi and autorickshaw drivers. They fear a loss of income due to the rise of ride-sharing options.
The central government had already allowed carpooling and bikepooling under the Aggregator Policy 2020. But the final approval rests with each state.
Some apps were already offering carpool services on busy routes like Mumbai to Pune. But these operated without official permission. Now, only licensed platforms will be allowed to offer such services.
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