Bike taxi services in Mumbai have been suspended following a surprise inspection by Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik. The crackdown came after the minister booked a ride on Rapido on July 2 without revealing his identity and found bike taxis operating without legal approval.

Following this, popular ride-hailing platforms such as Rapido and Uber have disabled the bike taxi option in Mumbai, triggering confusion among users and sparking debate over the legality of such services.

This development comes a day after the Centre issued the new Motor Vehicles Aggregator Guidelines, 2025, granting states the authority to permit bike taxis using non-transport, white-plate motorcycles. The guidelines aim to regulate the growing bike taxi segment, which has gained popularity due to its low cost and convenience, especially in traffic-congested cities.

Under the new rules, state governments may allow ride aggregators to offer bike taxi services using private two-wheelers, with provisions to collect authorisation fees on a daily, weekly, or fortnightly basis. However, the final decision rests with the states. While the Centre’s move gives a legal backing to bike taxis, it does not make their approval mandatory.

States like Karnataka have already banned such operations, citing safety concerns and the use of non-commercial vehicles for commercial purposes. The opposition from sections of the traditional transport sector, including auto and cab drivers, has further complicated the adoption of bike taxis.

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has stated that the 2025 guidelines are meant to offer a 'light-touch' regulatory framework focusing on commuter safety and driver welfare. The guidelines also seek to balance innovation in urban mobility with enforcement and accountability.

The temporary halt in Mumbai highlights the ongoing friction between evolving transport trends and the regulatory grey areas they occupy. With states now having the legal tools to either regularise or restrict such services, all eyes are on Maharashtra’s next move.