Overview
- Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik said on Tuesday that a draft bike‑taxi policy has been finalised and sent to the Law and Judiciary Department for clearance ahead of an expected August 1 start.
- Under the proposal aggregators would pay a levy of ₹5 per vehicle daily and a 2% per‑ride contribution to a driver welfare fund to generate state revenue and social benefits.
- Permits will be restricted to applicants with Maharashtra domicile who demonstrate functional Marathi, drivers must hold a valid licence and PSV badge, and police character verification will be mandatory before badges are issued.
- The announcement follows year‑long enforcement that detected about 1,000 unauthorised vehicles between April 2025 and May 2026 and comes with renewed challenges over petrol versus electric two‑wheelers and national app platforms.
- Driver unions including the Maharashtra Kamgar Sabha have criticised the move and threatened statewide road blockades, creating a flashpoint as the state prepares RTOs and police to implement the new rules.