Startup Originals Team
The Maharashtra State Transport Authority has granted provisional licences to Ola, Uber, and Rapido to operate bike-taxis in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. This comes under the new Maharashtra Bike Taxi Rules, 2025. The licences are conditional, and companies must comply with regulations and apply for permanent licenses soon. Freight bike taxi service may return to the streets after months of legal and regulatory uncertainty.
What the New Rules Say
- The licences are provisional, meaning they allow operations temporarily while the companies fulfil requirements. Permanent licences must be applied for within one month of getting the provisional permission.
- The rules were framed under the Maharashtra Bike Taxi Rules, 2025, which set out conditions like fares, safety, registration etc.
Fare Structure & Comparison
- The minimum fare is fixed at ₹15 for the first 1.5 km. Beyond that, riders will be charged ₹10.27 per km.
- These fares are lower compared to autorickshaws or regular “black-and-yellow” taxis in Mumbai. For instance, autos have a minimum fare of about ₹26, and black-and-yellow taxi minimums are about ₹31.
Who Got the Licences & Who Didn’t
- The three target companies that got the provisional licences are ANI Technologies Pvt Ltd (Ola), Uber India Systems Pvt Ltd (Uber), and Roppen Transportation Services Pvt Ltd (Rapido).
- One company, Smart-Ride, had its application rejected because it failed to meet the required conditions.
Background: Previous Ban & Enforcement
- Earlier, in January 2023, Maharashtra had made a government resolution banning private or non-transport category two-wheelers from app-based ride services because of safety, licensing, and regulatory issues.
- Despite the ban, some bike taxi services continued operating unofficially, leading to enforcement actions like FIRs and vehicle seizures.
What Comes Next
- The Transport Authority will review the bike taxi fares after one year to adjust if needed.
- Companies with provisional licences must satisfy the conditions in the 2025 rules to transition to permanent licenses. If they fail to comply, their licences may not be renewed.
Conclusion
The provisional approval for bike taxis in Mumbai marks a big regulatory shift. For riders, it could mean more affordable and flexible last-mile mobility. For the companies, it means they have a clear path forward, but also regulatory responsibilities. All eyes will be on how the rules are enforced and how quickly the services roll out under the new legal framework.
