Pune Collector Jitendra Dudi has directed Rapido to immediately stop its two-wheeler bike-taxi pilot in the city, saying the service began without a licence and warning that the company could face legal action from Friday if it does not comply.
Dudi said the service would not be allowed to resume until Rapido obtains the required licence. The direction followed a meeting with representatives of auto-rickshaw and cab driver unions, as well as transport aggregators.
“Rapido started its two-wheeler pilot services in the city without a licence. I directed that these services stop today. Otherwise, we will take legal action starting tomorrow,” Dudi said.
The administration’s order also covers fare transparency across cab aggregator platforms. Companies have been directed to submit monthly fare data to the district administration and display Regional Transport Authority-approved fares in a separate column on their applications so passengers can compare the prescribed rates.
According to Dudi, drivers must receive 80 per cent of the RTA base fare under existing fare norms. The permitted passenger fare range extends from 50 per cent below the base fare to 1.5 times the base fare.
The Collector said the administration had received complaints that drivers were not being paid according to the prescribed norms and that passengers were being charged beyond the permitted range. Monthly data submissions, he said, would allow authorities to monitor compliance and improve accountability among aggregators.
The action against Rapido follows objections raised by auto-rickshaw and cab unions. Union representatives at the meeting supported the halt and sought stricter enforcement of transport rules across Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad.
Nitin Pawar, president of the Rickshaw Panchayat, said the state government had granted bike taxis a nine-month window to transition to electric vehicles. He said a resolution on the issue could come before the Pune Regional Transport Authority in line with government directives, but opposed granting permission for bike taxis, citing traffic conditions in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad.
Dr Keshav Kshirsagar, president of the Maharashtra Kamgar Sabha, said police stations should be informed about government-mandated meter fares to address recurring law-and-order concerns. He alleged that violations of prescribed fares could financially affect both passengers and drivers.
Kshirsagar also warned that rickshaw and cab driver unions in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad could unite to stage a protest if companies failed to follow the government’s directions.
The Collector’s order places the immediate operation of Rapido’s bike-taxi pilot on hold while the licensing issue is resolved. The administration will also begin receiving monthly fare information from cab aggregators and require the display of RTA-approved fares on their platforms.
