Centre Clears The Path For Bike Taxi Operations

Amid growing debate over the legitimacy of bike taxi aggregators in India, the central government has revised the ‘Motor Vehicles Aggregator Guidelines 2020’ to allow operations of bike taxis. 

As per the new guidelines, ‘Motor Vehicles Aggregator Guidelines, 2025’, sent to chief secretaries of states and union territories by the road transport and highways ministry (MoRTH), the ministry has allowed aggregation of non-transport motorcycles for journey by passengers as shared mobility through aggregators. 

The guidelines said that bike taxis result in reduction in traffic congestion and vehicular pollution, along with “providing inter alia affordable passenger mobility, hyperlocal delivery, creating livelihood opportunities”.

The power to allow the aggregation of bike taxis still resides with the state government, which may impose fees on the aggregator to issue permits for private bike taxi aggregation. 

“The State Government may, in exercise of its powers under sub-section (3) of Section 67 of the Act, permit aggregation of non-transport motorcycles for journey by passengers,” as per the guidelines. 

The ministry said that there was a need to revise the 2020 guidelines as the industry has evolved significantly in the past five years. 

The rising demand of mobility solutions, including bike sharing, autorickshaw rides, among others, made the ministry revisit the guidelines to keep the regulatory framework up to date with the evolving needs of transportation in the country.

Welcoming the move, a spokesperson of bike taxi major Rapido said, “By recognising non-transport motorcycles as a means of shared mobility, the government has opened the door to more affordable transportation options for millions, especially in underserved and hyperlocal areas.” 

(The story will be updated soon)

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