By Manjiri Joshi,News18

Copyright news18

In relief for Mumbai commuters stuck in traffic snarls, the State Transport Authority (STA) in Maharashtra granted approval for provisional licences to parent firms of app-based taxi aggregators Ola, Uber, and Rapido for bike taxi services in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. Bike taxis will be significantly cheaper than black-and-yellow taxis commonly known as kaali-peeli in Mumbai.
As per the minutes of an STA meeting, the approval has been granted on the condition that these companies apply for permanent licences within a month, fulfilling all terms and conditions prescribed in the Maharashtra Bike Taxi Rules 2025, PTI reported.
What is the fare?
Rs 15: for first 1.5 km
Rs 10.27 for each additional kilometre
The transport authority has fixed the fare for bike taxis using the formula devised by the Khatua panel, which has been in use to derive rates for autorickshaws and taxis, an official told PTI. The authority has also decided to review bike taxi fares after one year, it was stated.
What are the rates for black-and-yellow taxis and autos in MMR?
Passengers pay a minimum fare of Rs 31 for black-and-yellow taxis and Rs 26 for autorickshaws in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).
Which companies have got nod?
In the last two months, the transport department received four applications to launch bike taxi services in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). But it approved provisional licences for only three companies.
ANI Technologies Private Limited, Uber India Systems Private Limited, and Roppen Transportation Services Private Limited, the parent companies of Ola, Uber, and Rapido, respectively, have been given approval.
The rules for bike taxis
The Maharashtra officially notified rules for bike-taxi services across the state — the Maharashtra Bike-Taxi Rules, 2025 in July, days after state minister Pratap Sarnaik exposed the illegal operations by hailing a ride from Mantralaya, the state secretariat.
According to the rules:
1. Only electric two-wheelers are allowed. Petrol vehicles are not permitted.
2. Aggregators must operate a minimum fleet of 50 electric bikes registered in Maharashtra and pay Rs 1 lakh as a licensing fee and Rs 5 lakh as a security deposit.
3. Licences will be valid for five years.
4. Each bike taxi must be painted yellow with ‘bike taxi’ written in reflective lettering.
5. Riders must provide yellow helmets to passengers, which must be sanitised after every trip.
6. Only drivers aged between 20 and 50 years with a valid commercial licence and PSV badge can be employed. They must undergo police verification, periodic health and fitness checks, and demonstrate knowledge of city routes.
7. Anyone convicted in the past seven years of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is barred from working as a driver.
8. Aggregators must ensure their apps include features such as GPS tracking, female driver preference, panic buttons, and a 24×7 control room.
9. Street hailing of bike taxis is prohibited; rides must be booked through the app.
10. Working hours for drivers are capped at eight hours a day, and the maximum trip distance is restricted to 15km. Aggregators are required to conduct safety training for drivers every three months.
With PTI Inputs