Maharashtra Government Revokes Provisional Bike Taxi Licences of Ola, Uber and Rapido

Bike taxi operations have again come to a halt across Maharashtra after the state government cancelled the provisional licences issued to ride-hailing platforms including Ola, Uber and Rapido. 

Licences Cancelled Over Compliance Issues 

State Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik said the decision was taken after authorities received repeated complaints regarding non-compliance with regulatory conditions by bike taxi operators. 

According to the minister, the platforms were accused of issues including complaints of harassment involving women riders and use of petrol-powered bikes instead of the mandated electric vehicles. 

He also said the companies were asked to submit certain required documents but failed to do so. Sarnaik stated, “We directed them to submit necessary documents; however, they did not submit any of them, prompting us to revoke their temporary licences across Maharashtra.” 

Background of the Bike Taxi Policy 

Bike taxi services in Maharashtra had earlier been banned in January 2023, with the government directing aggregators to apply for licences to operate. 

Following the ban, Rapido attempted to obtain permission to run its services but was denied approval and later approached the Bombay High Court, which rejected the plea and ordered the company to suspend operations after finding that services were being run without a licence. 

The policy remained unresolved for some time until the Maharashtra cabinet approved a proposal in April 2025 allowing bike taxis, with the condition that only electric bikes would be permitted. The rules were formally notified in July 2025. 

Provisional Licences Granted and Later Revoked 

In September 2025, the state government granted provisional licences to operators such as Ola, Uber, and Rapido.  

The companies were required to follow conditions related to vehicle fitness, fare transparency, rider safety measures, GPS tracking, emergency features, complaint redressal systems, and driver conduct rules. 

Sarnaik said the government may reconsider allowing the services again if companies comply with all requirements. He said, “If they follow our norms and the terms and conditions of the permits, we will give the permits again.” 

Read More: Uber Infuses ₹2,921 Crore into India Arm Amid Rapid Rise of Rapido! 

Conclusion 

With the cancellation of the provisional permits, bike taxi services will once again remain non-operational across Maharashtra until operators comply with the government’s conditions and obtain fresh approvals. 

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