News, 4 April 2025
The Maharashtra Cabinet has recently approved a proposal to introduce electric bike taxi services in cities with populations over 100,000. This initiative seeks to improve urban mobility by offering an affordable last-mile connectivity option for short journeys of up to 15 kilometers.
Under this new policy, only electric bike taxis will be classified within the transport sector, with specific eligibility criteria restricting drivers to those aged between 20 to 50. Additionally, female passengers will have the choice to select a female driver. The initiative is anticipated to create approximately 20,000 jobs in urban regions, including around 10,000 positions in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
Furthermore, the government is implementing regulations focused on women’s safety and plans to introduce e-bikes suitable for rainy conditions, featuring partitions between the driver and passenger as well as roof covers. The state is also considering offering a subsidy of INR 10,000 for auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers willing to switch to electric bike taxis. Moreover, the children of government-certified rickshaw and taxi drivers will be eligible for financial support under this initiative.
The policy allows for bike pooling on private two-wheelers to help alleviate congestion and stipulates that the fare structure for bike taxis will be regulated by Regional Transport Authorities. This policy is in line with recommendations from a committee led by Ramnath Jha, which was established to create a framework for bike taxi aggregators. Those operating under this policy must use electric bikes painted yellow and adhere to regulations that include GPS installation, emergency communication systems, speed monitoring, insurance coverage, and driver background checks.
