The Karnataka transport division on September 12 constituted a 10-member group to go to 5 cities throughout the nation to analyse their bike taxi insurance policies. A group of two officers every visited Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Delhi, and Mumbai, following which they have been directed to submit a report on Wednesday.
A senior transport official instructed The Indian Categorical, “The groups got the mandate of finding out below what provisions bike taxis are working in numerous states, which can assist us collect inputs for the high-level committee assembly.”
The federal government had earlier shaped a high-level committee of senior officers to analyse the operation of motorbike taxis within the state. The high-level committee is chaired by Dr N V Prasad, Secretary, Transport Division. It additionally includes the Commissioner, Directorate of City and Land Transport (DULT), Bengaluru; the Commissioner, Labour Division, Bengaluru; the Commissioner, Transport and Highway Security, Bengaluru; the Managing Director, BMTC, Bengaluru; the Joint Commissioner of Police (Visitors), Bengaluru Metropolis; the Joint Commissioner of Police (Regulation and Order), Bengaluru Metropolis; a senior consultant of BMRCL; a senior consultant of the Larger Bengaluru Authority; and a senior officer from the Karnataka State Air pollution Management Board. The Extra Transport Commissioner and Secretary, State Transport Authority, Bengaluru, serves because the member secretary of the Committee.
Sources within the transport division acknowledged {that a} assembly of the committee was held on Wednesday, following which members representing the assorted authorities businesses have been requested to weigh in on the professionals and cons of working bike taxis within the state. “Experiences of every of the members will probably be reviewed and mentioned, following which we are going to current our arguments earlier than the Karnataka Excessive Courtroom,” a supply stated.
How do different cities function bike taxis?
Delhi: Aligns with 2025 central pointers, permitting personal bikes as bike taxis with a phased EV transition by 2030. Solely EVs may be newly onboarded; non-EV operations face Rs 10,000 fines. Issues of safety like helmet non-compliance persist. Delhi Metro integrates EV bike taxis at 12 stations for last-mile connectivity.
Mumbai: Maharashtra’s 2025 Bike Taxi Guidelines allow solely electrical bike taxis in cities with over 1 lakh inhabitants, with a most of 15 km rides. Aggregators want a 5-year State Transport Authority licence, and a 50+ EV fleet. Fares: Rs 15 for 1.5 km, Rs 10.27/km thereafter. Security contains helmets, Rs 2 lakh insurance coverage, and an 8-hour driving cap.
Chennai: No ban, however non-transport bikes are unlawful. Ola, Uber, and Rapido function below the 2025 central pointers. A proposed aggregator coverage is pending, with strict enforcement on licences, insurance coverage.
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Kolkata: Helps bike taxis with no ban, requiring business yellow plates. Almost 30,000 bikes function. Emphasises EV shift, security through verification, and insurance coverage. A robust regulatory framework promotes last-mile connectivity.
Hyderabad: No formal coverage; 60,000-70,000 personal bikes function. Unions demand bans, citing security, tax evasion, and auto competitors. No EV mandate; Regional Transport Workplace (RTO) fines Rs 10,000-15,000 for violations. Coverage choice pending amid requires regulation or ban.
The case within the Karnataka Excessive Courtroom
The choice to represent the committee follows a Karnataka Excessive Courtroom order in April that directed the suspension of motorbike taxi providers throughout the state. The order was challenged by 5 main gamers –Uber India Programs Pvt Ltd, Varikruti Mahendra Reddy, ANI Applied sciences Pvt Ltd (Ola), Roppen Transportation Providers Pvt Ltd (Rapido), and Bike Taxi Welfare Affiliation.
In a vital listening to on August 20, the Karnataka Excessive Courtroom recorded the advocate normal’s submission that the federal government would give “severe consideration” to the problems raised. The court docket had adjourned the matter to September 22, giving the state authorities a month to resolve on framing a complete bike taxi coverage.
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The division bench termed bike taxis a “professional enterprise” and known as the blanket prohibition “unconstitutional,” describing the ban as “arbitrary, unreasonable, and violative of Articles 14 and 19(1)(g)” of the Structure. The court docket emphasised that “lives are at stake on this matter” whereas criticising the federal government’s strategy.