Have A Bike? Pay Govt Rs 5 Daily And Earn Money, Says Transport Dept's 'Strange' Plan

Published 8 July 2026 · local

Have A Bike? Pay Govt Rs 5 Daily And Earn Money, Says Transport Dept's 'Strange' Plan Published By, Last Updated: July 08, 2026, 12:49 IST

Have A Bike? Pay Govt Rs 5 Daily And Earn Money, Says Transport Dept's 'Strange' Plan Published By, Last Updated: July 08, 2026, 12:49 IST App Bike Taxi: Transport dept, which firmly rejected petrol bike taxis citing EV promotion, executes major U-turn, now moving to legalise the same service. Critics argue the state is undermining its own electric vehicle push for a modest Rs 5-a-day gamble. Maharashtra’s transport department, which had firmly rejected petrol-run bike taxis in favour of promoting electric vehicles, has executed a stunning reversal. A new proposal now seeks to legalise petrol bike taxis through the back door — with the state planning to collect Rs 5 daily revenue from every driver, undercutting its own EV policy in the process. The proposal, drafted to generate state revenue and youth employment, threatens to derail Maharashtra’s own Electric Vehicle Policy just as it gains momentum. The move comes months after Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik firmly denied permission to petrol bike taxis following protests by Mumbai’s auto-taxi drivers — making this sudden shift all the more striking.

Why Is This Being Called An Odd U-Turn? The transport department had earlier taken a hard line against petrol bike taxis specifically to protect Mumbai’s auto-taxi driver community and push the state’s EV agenda forward. That stance has now flipped under the guise of generating revenue and creating jobs for youth. Under the new proposal • Drivers will be required to pay Rs 5 in daily revenue to the state • An additional Rs 2 per ride will go toward a welfare fund • The proposal has been forwarded to the Law and Judiciary Department for review Critics argue the state is undermining its own electric vehicle push for a modest Rs 5-a-day gamble — a contradiction even government insiders are struggling to explain. What Did The Minister Admit In Assembly? Responding to questions raised by MLAs Dilip Lande, Sunil Prabhu and others over unauthorised bike taxis operating across the state, Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik confirmed that a new regulatory framework has been sent to the Law and Judiciary Department.

He said the framework mandates daily revenue collection from drivers along with a per-ride welfare contribution — effectively formalising a segment the department had previously refused to recognise. A final call, Sarnaik added, will be taken after consultation with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. What Safety Measures Are Built Into The New Rules? To protect women, students and minor passengers, the draft framework includes several mandatory safeguards • A valid driving licence and public service vehicle badge for every driver • Mandatory police character verification before badge issuance • A domicile certificate required for drivers from outside the state • No badge — and therefore no licence — for drivers who fail to meet these conditions The provisions aim to build a baseline of accountability into a segment that has largely operated outside formal regulation until now. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit About the Author Sumedha Kirti Sumedha Kirti is a Chief Sub Editor with over eight years of experience — both at the desk and reporting.