Maharashtra Transport Commissioner Orders Crackdown On Illegal Bike Taxis After Minister Pratap Sarnaik’s Sting Operation

Mumbai: A day after Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik conducted a surprise sting operation exposing illegal bike taxi services, the state Transport Commissioner's office has issued strict directives to all Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) to take immediate action against unauthorised bike taxi operators.

The State Transport Department has launched a special enforcement drive against the illegal operation of bike taxis across the state. In an official letter issued on Thursday by the Transport Commissioner’s office, all Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) and Deputy RTOs have been directed to take strict action against unlicensed bike taxi services operating without valid permits.

Apart from that, Transport Commissioner's office urged citizens to refrain from using such unlicensed services, citing serious safety and legal concerns. The department also assured the public that stringent action would be taken against operators if credible information is provided.

The crackdown follows a dramatic sting operation on Wednesday when Minister Sarnaik, without disclosing his identity, booked a bike ride through the Rapido app from Mantralaya to Dadar. The illegal activity was confirmed when the rider was caught at Babu Genu Junction, right outside the state secretariat.

According to the release, companies like Rapido, Ola, and Uber have been allegedly ferrying passengers via bike taxis without the required permits. Under Section 93 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, and the Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines, 2020, it is mandatory for aggregators to obtain the appropriate authorisations before operating. Additionally, Section 66 prohibits the use of private vehicles for commercial passenger transport, with violations liable to attract legal consequences.

However, bike taxi option not visible on Uber apps in Mumbai, stated PR team of Uber in a what's message to FPJ on Thursday

Transport officials further noted that FIRs had already been lodged last month against Uber and Rapido for similar offences. Two clerks from the Transport Commissioner's office had conducted sting operations following earlier reports, leading to a case being registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

According to sources, government has also begun drafting regulatory guidelines for bike taxi services in urban areas with populations exceeding one lakh. As part of this process, the public has been invited to submit suggestions and objections to help shape the final policy framework.