Pune Collector Jitendra Dudi has directed Rapido to stop its two-wheeler bike-taxi pilot in the city with immediate effect, warning that the company could face legal action from Friday if it does not comply with the order. The administration said the service had begun without a licence and would not be permitted to resume until the required approval is obtained.
“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, according to the Indian Express. The order followed a meeting between the district administration, auto-rickshaw and cab driver unions, and representatives of transport aggregators.
The decision also introduced new compliance requirements for cab aggregators operating in Pune. Companies have been directed to submit fare data to the district administration every month and display Regional Transport Authority-approved fares in a separate column on their applications. The measure is intended to allow passengers and officials to compare the fares being charged with the rates prescribed by the RTA.
Dudi said drivers were required to 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 administration acted after auto-rickshaw and cab drivers complained that aggregators were not following these rules, including alleged deviations in both driver payments and passenger charges.
“We received complaints that drivers were not being paid according to the prescribed norms and that passengers were being charged beyond the permitted fare range. Aggregators must now submit their fare data every month to ensure accountability,” Dudi said.
The action against Rapido was supported by representatives of driver unions, although they sought stricter restrictions on bike taxis. 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 decision could come before the Pune RTA in line with government directions, but argued that the authority should not grant permission for bike taxis in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad because of existing traffic conditions.
Dr Keshav Kshirsagar, president of the Maharashtra Kamgar Sabha, called for all police stations to be informed about government-mandated meter fares. He said violations of fare rules could lead to financial exploitation of both passengers and drivers and warned that rickshaw and cab unions in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad could organise protests if companies failed to follow government directives.
The immediate order leaves Rapido’s Pune bike-taxi pilot dependent on the company obtaining a licence and meeting the applicable regulatory requirements. The district administration’s next steps include monitoring compliance, receiving monthly fare data from aggregators and ensuring that approved fares are displayed to passengers.
