Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik has directed the cyber crime department to initiate action against app-based bike taxi operations run by Ola, Uber and Rapido, including filing FIRs against their founders over alleged illegal operations in the state.
The transport department has taken a strict stance against unauthorized bike taxi services allegedly operating illegally in the state, the Maharashtra Directorate General of Information and Public Relations (DGIPR) said.
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“Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik has written to the Cyber Crime department demanding the immediate shutdown of unauthorized bike taxi app services like Ola, Uber and Rapido, and the filing of FIRs against the respective company owners,” DGIPR said in a post on X.
Meanwhile, the DGIPR also debunked claims of ride-hailing services such as Ola and Uber being shut down in the state in a post on X on Saturday.
महाराष्ट्रात ओला, उबर आणि रॅपिडोच्या सर्व सेवा पूर्णपणे बंद करण्यात आल्याचा सोशल मीडियावरील दावा दिशाभूल करणारा आहे. #FactCheck #DGIPRFactCheck
— MAHARASHTRA DGIPR (@MahaDGIPR) May 15, 2026
राज्यात बेकायदेशीरपणे सुरू असलेल्या अनधिकृत बाईक टॅक्सी सेवांविरोधात परिवहन विभागाने कठोर भूमिका घेतली आहे. #ओला, #उबर आणि #रॅपिडो… pic.twitter.com/69jjCPbNbc
The Maharashtra government had revoked the temporary licences granted to bike taxi operators in the state over alleged non-compliance, according to NDTV reports from March 9.
Speaking to NDTV, Sarnaik said the department had been receiving constant complaints about alleged violations of rules by these ride-hailing companies.
Sarnaik cited complaints alleging the use of petrol-powered bikes instead of electric vehicles, as well as incidents of women allegedly being harassed by riders. “Despite repeated warnings, these companies failed to comply with the rules,” he said.
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Sarnaik further pointed out that the state transport department had issued temporary licences to the companies.
“We directed them to submit necessary documents; however they (ride hailing companies) did not submit any of them. Prompting us to take a decision to revoke their temporary licenses across Maharashtra,” he added.
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