18 December,2025 09:51 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Pratap Sarnaik. Pic/X
Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik on Wednesday said the State Transport Authority will take a decision about the bike taxi aggregators found violating rules, and said his department has so far filed 36 complaints against the erring operators, reported news agency PTI.
In a video shared by the Transport Minister's office after a review meeting held at the Mantralaya in the wake of the alleged molestation of a female passenger by a bike taxi rider in Kalyan town of Thane district, Sarnaik said the aggregators had failed to follow the rules even after obtaining permission.
After the cabinet's approval, the transport department had issued temporary licences to bike taxi aggregators, namely Ola, Uber, and Rapido. The companies had also showcased their bike taxis to the department.
The State Transport Authority, chaired by the transport secretary, will take a decision about it within two days, he said, reported PTI.
"If the rules made by the state government about bike taxis are not followed, then it will have to take an appropriate decision about them, and I have given the directives regarding it," Sarnaik said, reported PTI.
The transport minister said the companies have been using petrol-powered bikes on roads, despite e-bikes being made mandatory under the Maharashtra Bike Taxi Rules, 2025, reported PTI.
He further said that recently, a passenger died in an accident involving a bike taxi of one aggregator, while a rider associated with another aggregator molested a woman passenger in Kalyan.
Sarnaik said that so far, the transport department has filed 36 police complaints against bike taxi aggregators, reported PTI.
Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaikk on December 3 stated that strict action will be taken against app-based bike taxis operating illegally in the state.
He has directed the Motor Transport Department to file criminal cases against companies that run bike taxi services without following government rules, an official statement said.
It said that Sarnaik said that although the government recently announced its new e-bike policy, many app-based bike taxi companies have started operating without giving proper training to their riders.
According to the official statement, the drivers are using ordinary private bikes to carry passengers, which is unsafe and against the law. Recently, a passenger died while travelling on one such illegal bike taxi. Despite this, several companies continue to ignore government rules.
Taking note of repeated complaints, Sarnaik stated that only the companies -- not the individual riders -- will face criminal cases.
"What happens in other states will not be allowed in Maharashtra. The safety of passengers is our top priority. Companies that follow safety rules and do not exploit riders will get government support. But those who operate illegally and put passengers at risk will face strong action," he said.
Following his orders, on December 2, the Motor Transport Department filed a case at Ghatkopar Police Station against Rapido (Ropn Transport Private Limited). The case was registered under Sections 66(1) and 192 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, for operating bike taxis illegally.
(With inputs from PTI)
