Mumbai, May 12: Maharashtra Transport Minister has directed authorities to take strict action against unauthorized bike taxi services operating across the state and has called for the registration of FIRs against app-based aggregators allegedly running such services illegally. In a letter addressed to the Additional Director General of the Maharashtra Cyber Crime Department the minister sought the immediate suspension of unauthorized bike taxi operations allegedly being conducted through platforms such as and a similar communication has also been sent by the State Transport Commissioner to the cyber crime authorities.
According to the minister, several app-based operators have been facilitating passenger transport services in Maharashtra without obtaining the necessary permissions government approvals or complying with Transport Department regulations. He stated that the increasing presence of unauthorized bike taxi services especially those operated through digital platforms has become a serious public safety concern.
The letter also pointed to alleged shortcomings in passenger safety measures, including inadequate driver verification procedures lack of proper insurance coverage insufficient safeguards for women passengers and the absence of an effective emergency response system. The government has expressed concern that these deficiencies could put commuters’ lives at risk.
Referring to a recent incident the minister cited a fatal accident involving an unauthorized bike taxi on the Mulund-Goregaon Link Road in. in which a woman reportedly lost her life. An FIR has already been registered at Navghar Police Station in connection with the case. The letter further noted that similar incidents have been reported at multiple police stations across the state.
The Transport Department has argued that such allegedly illegal services are negatively impacting the livelihoods of licensed auto-rickshaw and taxi operators by conducting commercial passenger transport operations in violation of existing transport laws.
Among the key demands made to the Cyber Crime Department are the immediate shutdown of unauthorized bike taxi applications operating online legal action against app companies, drivers and management under the Information Technology Act and the Motor Vehicles Act and the registration of criminal cases against company owners.
“The state government is fully committed to ensuring citizens’ safety and will not tolerate any unauthorized system operating in violation of the law,” Minister Sarnaik said.
