12 May,2026 03:26 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik. File Pic
Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik has directed strict action against illegal bike taxi operations in the state, urging the Cyber Crime Department to immediately block unauthorised apps and initiate FIRs against company owners.
In a letter to the Additional Director General of the Maharashtra Cyber Department, Sarnaik demanded action against bike taxi services operating without valid permission or compliance with Transport Department regulations. The Transport Commissioner has also issued a similar directive.
The minister flagged rising use of unauthorised platforms, particularly Rapido-like services, calling it a serious public safety concern due to lack of driver verification, insurance cover, women's safety safeguards, and emergency response systems.
Citing a recent fatal accident on the Mulund-Goregaon Link Road, where a woman died in a bike taxi crash, Sarnaik noted that an FIR has already been registered in the case.
He added that similar incidents have been reported across multiple police stations.
The Transport Department has also raised concerns over financial transactions carried out by these apps in violation of motor vehicle norms, stating that such operations are adversely impacting licensed auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers.
The minister has sought immediate shutdown of unauthorised apps and strict legal action under the Information Technology Act and Motor Vehicles Act against companies, drivers, and management.
"The state government will not tolerate any illegal transport system that compromises public safety," Sarnaik said.
Earlier in March, the Maharashtra government cancelled the provisional licences of several bike taxi service providers operating in Mumbai and surrounding areas after finding that they were running services without complying with the prescribed regulations.
Pratap Sarnaik informed the Legislative Council that strict action will be taken against companies violating transport norms.
The action was taken amid increasing scrutiny of bike taxi operators in the state and concerns about compliance with safety regulations and licensing requirements.
Responding to a calling attention motion raised by MLC Sunil Shinde under Rule 93, Sarnaik said that the provisional licences issued to certain companies were cancelled after authorities found irregularities in their operations.
The companies whose provisional permissions were withdrawn include Uber India Systems Pvt. Ltd., Roppen Transportation Services Pvt. Ltd. and ANI Technologies Pvt. Ltd.
