A big decision has been taken for bike taxi service in Maharashtra. Bike taxi service companies including Ola, Uber and Rapido will have to convert their entire fleet into electric vehicles by July 2027. The state transport department has given a total of nine months time to the companies for the change in phase. Following instructions from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, the state transport department had sent a letter to bike taxi aggregators and regional transport offices in Maharashtra in October. Indian Express has reported about this in detail.
6 months for petrol bike taxi in the first phase
According to the plan to make the fleet 100 percent electric, bike taxi operators currently running on petrol have been given six months time in the first phase. During this time, they will have to convert petrol-powered vehicles into electric vehicles in their fleet. Under the Maharashtra Bike Taxi Rules, 2025, operators who have applied for a temporary or provisional license will be given three months' extra time. This will give a maximum of nine months time to the companies and operators concerned to completely switch to electric vehicles.
Bike taxi drivers protest
Meanwhile, bike taxi drivers and their association have expressed concern over this decision of the government. The association says that it is financially challenging for many drivers as they have to make huge investments to buy electric vehicles. In September, Maharashtra Bike Taxi Welfare Association had sent a letter to the concerned officials including Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, the state Transport Minister and Transport Commissioner. The association had demanded that one and a half year's time be given to completely convert to electric vehicles.
Amit Gawde, President of Maharashtra Bike Taxi Welfare Association, drew attention to the financial difficulties of the drivers. Gawde said, “Most bike taxi drivers come from middle-class or lower-middle-class families. Therefore, it is difficult for them to make a big investment in buying an electric bike at one go. The limited number of charging facilities for electric vehicles and the short lifespan of electric vehicles makes this decision even more difficult.”
Companies had asked for a deadline of 2030
Meanwhile, aggregators had also sought more time to convert to electric vehicles. Referring to Maharashtra's electric vehicle policy, a state government official said the companies had asked for a deadline of 2030. However, the government has not accepted the demands of the companies and has given only nine months time to convert to 100 percent electric vehicles.
This will bring about a major change in the bike taxi sector in Maharashtra in the next few months, with drivers purchasing electric vehicles, charging facilities and operational costs being the main issues.
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