Maharashtra Rickshaw Unions Call Statewide Protest On May 21 Against Govt's E-Bike Taxi Policy

Mumbai: Commuters in Mumbai and across Maharashtra are likely to face  disruptions in auto-rickshaw services on May 21, as rickshaw unions have called for a state-wide protest against the government's recent decision to approve e-bike taxi services.

The Mumbai Auto Rickshaw-Taximen’s Union, has announced a massive protest march to the Andheri RTO office on Tuesday. Simultaneous demonstrations are expected at Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) across Maharashtra, as part of a coordinated agitation.

The trigger for the protest is the Maharashtra government’s April 2025 decision to permit e-bike taxis, following a cabinet meeting where the transport department’s proposal was approved. The move is being positioned by the government as a way to promote green mobility and generate employment for youth through self-employment opportunities.However, rickshaw unions are opposing the move, calling it a "unilateral" and "unjust" decision that endangers the livelihoods of over 1.5 million auto-rickshaw drivers in the state.“This approval was granted without consulting any of the existing unions. It’s not just unfair, it’s a threat to our daily survival,” said a spokesperson for the Joint Action Committee of Auto Rickshaw Driver-Owner Associations of Maharashtra.

Union leaders argue that the entry of e-bikes into the passenger transport market in the state could destabilize the fragile income of rickshaw drivers, who are already burdened by rising fuel prices and inflation.

Rikshaw operators demanding immediate rollback of the e-bike taxi policy and have urged the state government to hold discussions with all stakeholders before implementing such transformative measures.