Mumbai is introducing a pilot program for bike taxis starting today. Fares will be structured with an initial charge of Rs 15 for the first 1.5 kilometers, followed by Rs 10.3 per kilometer thereafter.
Bike taxi services are set to launch in MMR by the end of the month or early October, with Ola, Uber, and Rapido among the four approved aggregators. The State Transport Authority has set a minimum fare of Rs 15 for the first 1.5 km and Rs 10.27 for each subsequent kilometer.
Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik announced that these three aggregators can begin pilot operations across MMR immediately, having received provisional licenses. They have approximately one month to secure permanent licenses by meeting the state’s bike taxi regulations.
The fare structure was determined using the Khatua Committee formula, previously applied to autorickshaw and taxi fares in MMR. A government notification mandates that aggregator firms maintain a call center or operate through an authorized call center or web portal, a feature currently lacking in some cab aggregators.
Officials from the transport commissioner’s office reported a crackdown on illegal bike taxi operations in MMR due to numerous complaints. Recent checks and surprise raids led to FIRs and a reduction in unauthorized services. RTOs in Mumbai, Thane, Vashi, and Panvel deployed 20 special squads, impounding 123 illegal vehicles, including 78 bike taxis (primarily Rapido) and 45 other private vehicles transporting passengers without valid permits. Minister Sarnaik emphasized that operators must obtain state permits and pay the necessary revenue, citing his own encounter with an illegal Rapido biker.
Government guidelines, published in a gazette, specify that drivers must possess a valid commercial driving license, a Public Service Vehicle (PSV) badge (similar to auto-taxi drivers), and extensive knowledge of the operating area’s roads and routes to ensure passenger convenience. Drivers aged 20-50 must have commercial licenses and undergo police verification during induction, with a requirement of zero criminal convictions.
An Uber spokesperson welcomed the decision as a “win for commuters and earners alike,” stating that their license application has been submitted and they will continue to collaborate with the government.
