Relief for Ola Uber Rapido Bike Taxi Service MoRTH Advisory Could Remove Ban in Delhi Maharashtra

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has recently issued an advisory that may lift the existing ban on bike taxi services in metro cities like Delhi and Maharashtra. The advisory emphasises on categorising motorcycles as contract carriages under Section 2(7) of the Motor Vehicles (MV) Act, 1988. The ban on bike taxi services in Delhi and Maharashtra was a result of non-compliance of motor vehicle rules, particularly the use of regular bikes for commercial purposes, which was a violation of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.

In response, the Delhi government had warned that running a bike taxi without a proper commercial license would be considered a legal violation, attracting a fine of up to Rs 10,000 and license suspension for up to 3 years.

TOI’s AccordingMoRTH’s new advisory encourages all states and union territories to accept and process applications for contract carriage permits for motorcycles in line with the provisions of the MV Act and the rules attached thereto. If states like Delhi and Maharashtra adopt these guidelines, it could potentially lead to the resumption of bike taxi services.

Bike taxis coming back on the roads can give commuters a much-needed alternative mode of transportation, especially in congested urban areas. Apart from this, it will also benefit those looking to create job opportunities and an additional source of income.

While bike taxi services faced challenges and bans in some states, others like Goa, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh have allowed their operations.