Maharashtra Seeks Shutdown Of Ola, Uber, Rapido Bike Taxi Services
Summary
Maharashtra's transport minister has asked the state's cyber crime department to immediately shut down app-based bike taxi services run by Ola, Uber and Rapido and to file FIRs against company owners and management. The state alleges these platforms operated commercially without valid permissions, approvals, or required passenger-safety safeguards such as driver verification, insurance and emergency mechanisms. The move follows a long-running dispute that included a 2023 ban, provisional licences under 2025 bike taxi rules that were later revoked, and clashes with autorickshaw and taxi unions. The minister cited a fatal accident and ongoing safety and compliance concerns, while noting that final decisions on bike taxis rest with individual state governments despite central guideline changes.