2 weeks ago
Maharashtra Eyes Extending Bike-Taxi Rules to Delivery Platforms
Maharashtra wants to use its bike-taxi rules for food-delivery and quick-commerce companies.
The companies named include Swiggy, Zomato, Zepto, Amazon and Flipkart.
The proposed rules could require electric vehicles, verified drivers and contributions to a welfare fund.
Existing bike-taxi rules also require commercial licences and a minimum fleet of 50 electric bikes for aggregators.
Some delivery riders use their own motorcycles and work only part-time.
They worry that buying an electric bike and meeting new requirements would cost too much.
Lawyers say some small electric vehicles may not legally count as motor vehicles under India’s central laws.
This could prevent Maharashtra from applying passenger-transport rules to them.
The proposal is being examined by the state’s Law and Judiciary Department.
Maharashtra is considering bringing Swiggy, Zomato, Zepto, Amazon and Flipkart under its 2025 bike-taxi rules.
The proposal includes electric-vehicle requirements, driver verification, licence identification numbers and welfare-fund contributions.
Existing rules require bike-taxi aggregators to maintain at least 50 Maharashtra-registered electric bikes and meet commercial licensing requirements.
Legal experts say low-powered electric delivery vehicles may not qualify as motor vehicles under central law, creating limits on state regulation.
Delivery riders and CUTS International warn that mandatory electrification and added compliance could increase costs and raise entry barriers.
- Who
- The Maharashtra government, Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik, delivery platforms including Swiggy, Zomato, Zepto, Amazon and Flipkart, delivery riders, and legal experts.
- What
- A proposal to extend the Maharashtra Bike-Taxi Rules, 2025, to food-delivery, quick-commerce and other delivery service providers.
- Where
- Maharashtra, India.
- When
- The proposal followed discussions during the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly’s monsoon session; the original rules were notified in July 2025.
- Why
- The state wants to regulate delivery bikes that officials say operate without common regulatory norms and to place service providers under a common framework.
Supporters of broader regulation
Critics citing legal and cost concerns
Need for regulation
Supporters of broader regulation
Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik said delivery bikes operate without adhering to common regulatory norms and should ideally be covered by the framework.
Critics citing legal and cost concerns
Legal experts say Maharashtra cannot automatically apply aggregator-style licensing, fare rules or welfare levies to vehicles that may fall outside the central definition of motor vehicles.
Scope of state power
Supporters of broader regulation
The state could seek to impose safety, insurance, platform-accountability and welfare requirements on delivery aggregators.
Critics citing legal and cost concerns
Experts caution that passenger-transport requirements such as fares and permits may exceed the scope of state rules when applied indiscriminately to delivery vehicles.
Impact on riders
Supporters of broader regulation
A common framework could place all service providers under comparable rules and help address sector-specific risks.
Critics citing legal and cost concerns
Riders and CUTS International say permits, commercial registration and mandatory electric vehicles could raise operating costs; they favor phased, incentive-based electrification and lower entry barriers.
Key facts
- Existing rules
- Maharashtra Bike-Taxi Rules, 2025
- Original notification
- July 2025
- Vehicle requirement
- Bike taxis must use electric two-wheelers painted yellow and marked with reflective “bike taxi” lettering.
- Minimum fleet
- Aggregators must maintain at least 50 electric bikes registered in Maharashtra.
- Proposed welfare contribution
- A 2 percent contribution from each ride was discussed for a drivers’ welfare fund.
- Central-law exemption
- Certain battery-operated vehicles below 250 watts and 25 kmph, among other specified characteristics, are exempt from registration and licensing requirements.
- Proposal status
- The amendments are before Maharashtra’s Law and Judiciary Department for scrutiny.
Quotes
Pratap Sarnaik
Maharashtra Transport Minister
“We would ideally like the rules to extend to all delivery service providers because such bikes ply on the roads without adhering to any regulatory norms. However, this change cannot be made unless the Centre changes the legislation for the entire country.”
indianexpress.com
freepressjournal.in
“Such regulatory extensions increase overall operational costs for drivers through permits, commercial registrations, or even EV mandates without giving drivers any additional benefits of such stringent regulation.”
indianexpress.com
Alay Razvi
Managing Partner, Accord Juris
“States can impose general traffic and safety norms under their police powers, but they cannot treat such vehicles as motor vehicles or impose aggregator‑style licensing, fare fixation or welfare levies without conflicting with the central scheme.”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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