The Maharashtra State Transport Authority (STA) has granted provisional licences to the parent companies of app-based aggregators Ola, Uber, and Rapido to operate bike taxi services in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).
This approval comes under the recently notified Maharashtra Bike Taxi Rules, 2025, via a Government Resolution (GR).
Key Conditions & Fares
- These companies must apply for permanent licences within one month, having fulfilled all the terms and conditions under the new rules.
- The fare structure has been finalized:
- Minimum fare: ₹15 for the first 1.5 km
- Thereafter, ₹10.27 per km for longer distances.
Background: New Rules & Regulatory Path
- The Maharashtra government notified the Maharashtra Bike-Taxi Rules, 2025 on 4 July 2025, enabling bike-taxi and bike-pooling aggregators to legally run services, subject to fulfilling specified licensing, safety, and regulatory criteria
- Prior to this, bike-taxi services ran in a grey or illegal state in many parts of the state; several FIRs were filed, vehicles seized, and enforcement actions taken against aggregators offering such services without valid authorisation.
What It Means
- For Commuters: More affordable, faster options for short distance travel. Bike taxis are expected to be cheaper than black-and-yellow taxis and autorickshaws for similar distances.
- For Aggregators (Ola, Uber, Rapido): They now have a legal path to operate bike-taxis, provided they meet all prescribed safety, licensing, and operational norms. This opens up a new revenue stream.
- For Regulation & Safety: The rules include conditions like using commercial two-wheelers, safety gear, payment via apps, etc. Having permanent licence requirement will likely enforce better transparency and standards.
Challenges & What to Watch
- Compliance: Meeting all norms under the Bike-Taxi Rules, 2025 may be challenging (fleet registration, safety checks, driver verification, etc.). Delays or non-compliance could affect ability to get permanent licences.
- Competition and Pushback: Autorickshaw and taxi unions may oppose this expansion. Also, existing issues with illegal operations may persist.
- Public Acceptance & Safety Concerns: Riders will expect features like GPS tracking, driver background checks, app-based billing, safety measures. Also, regulatory oversight will matter.
- Operational Issues: Peak hours, traffic, vehicle maintenance, insurance, etc., could affect cost and service quality.
Conclusion
Granting of provisional licences to Ola, Uber, and Rapido for bike taxi services in Mumbai Metropolitan Region is a major policy shift under the Maharashtra Bike-Taxi Rules 2025. With fixed fares, regulatory oversight, and a legal framework in place, this move may transform short-distance travel options in Mumbai. However, its success will depend on how well aggregators implement safety, compliance, and earn trust from both riders and authorities.
