Karnataka transport department officials visit 5 cities to study bike taxi policies

The government had earlier formed a high-level committee of senior officers to analyse the operation of bike taxis in the state. The high-level committee is chaired by Dr N V Prasad, Secretary, Transport Department. It also comprises the Commissioner, Directorate of Urban and Land Transport (DULT), Bengaluru; the Commissioner, Labour Department, Bengaluru; the Commissioner, Transport and Road Safety, Bengaluru; the Managing Director, BMTC, Bengaluru; the Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic), Bengaluru City; the Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order), Bengaluru City; a senior representative of BMRCL; a senior representative of the Greater Bengaluru Authority; and a senior officer from the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board. The Additional Transport Commissioner and Secretary, State Transport Authority, Bengaluru, serves as the member secretary of the Committee.

Sources in the transport department stated that a meeting of the committee was held on Wednesday, following which members representing the various government agencies were asked to weigh in on the pros and cons of operating bike taxis in the state. “Reports of each of the members will be reviewed and discussed, following which we will present our arguments before the Karnataka High Court,” a source said.

How do other cities operate bike taxis?

Delhi: Aligns with 2025 central guidelines, allowing private bikes as bike taxis with a phased EV transition by 2030. Only EVs can be newly onboarded; non-EV operations face Rs 10,000 fines. Safety issues like helmet non-compliance persist. Delhi Metro integrates EV bike taxis at 12 stations for last-mile connectivity.

Mumbai: Maharashtra’s 2025 Bike Taxi Rules permit only electric bike taxis in cities with over 1 lakh population, with a maximum of 15 km rides. Aggregators need a 5-year State Transport Authority licence, and a 50+ EV fleet. Fares: Rs 15 for 1.5 km, Rs 10.27/km thereafter. Safety includes helmets, Rs 2 lakh insurance, and an 8-hour driving cap.

Chennai: No ban, but non-transport bikes are illegal. Ola, Uber, and Rapido operate under the 2025 central guidelines. A proposed aggregator policy is pending, with strict enforcement on licences, insurance.

Kolkata: Supports bike taxis with no ban, requiring commercial yellow plates. Nearly 30,000 bikes operate. Emphasises EV shift, safety via verification, and insurance. A strong regulatory framework promotes last-mile connectivity.

Hyderabad: No formal policy; 60,000-70,000 private bikes operate. Unions demand bans, citing safety, tax evasion, and auto competition. No EV mandate; Regional Transport Office (RTO) fines Rs 10,000-15,000 for violations. Policy decision pending amid calls for regulation or ban.

The case in the Karnataka High Court

The decision to constitute the committee follows a Karnataka High Court order in April that directed the suspension of bike taxi services across the state. The order was challenged by five major players –Uber India Systems Pvt Ltd, Varikruti Mahendra Reddy, ANI Technologies Pvt Ltd (Ola), Roppen Transportation Services Pvt Ltd (Rapido), and Bike Taxi Welfare Association.

In a crucial hearing on August 20, the Karnataka High Court recorded the advocate general’s submission that the government would give “serious consideration” to the issues raised. The court had adjourned the matter to September 22, giving the state government a month to decide on framing a comprehensive bike taxi policy.

The division bench termed bike taxis a “legitimate business” and called the blanket prohibition “unconstitutional,” describing the ban as “arbitrary, unreasonable, and violative of Articles 14 and 19(1)(g)” of the Constitution. The court emphasised that “lives are at stake in this matter” while criticising the government’s approach.