Maharashtra transport minister books Rapido bike to uncover illegal operations in Mumbai

Maharashtra transport minister Pratap Sarnaik booked a Rapido bike taxi to check if the cab aggregator was still providing its services in Mumbai despite getting a Bombay High Court order in January 2024 banning Rapido’s services in Maharashtra due to a lack of a valid license.

Sarnaik paid Rs 500 to the rider and refrained from taking action against him. “Filing a case against a poor man like you won’t help. Our fight is against the companies misusing such platforms,” he told the driver.

On social media, some praised the minister while others said it's a publicity stunt.

Earlier this year, Rapido's operations were banned in Maharashtra due to after failing to furnish proof of legal permissions in court. The Bombay High Court had ordered the suspension of its two-wheeler taxi, parcel, and auto service.

Ola, Uber, Rapido can charge double fares during peak hours

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has revised the Motor Vehicles Aggregator Guidelines, allowing cab aggregators like Ola and Uber to charge up to twice the base fare during peak hours. This move, likely to affect daily commuters, increases the earlier fare cap of 1.5 times, giving ride-hailing services more flexibility in pricing during high-demand periods.

According to the new rules, cab companies are allowed to charge a minimum of 50 per cent of the base fare during non-peak hours, while they can charge up to twice the base fare during peak hours. Read more