The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) recently issued an advisory that can pave the way for lifting the current ban on bike taxi services in metro cities such as Delhi and Maharashtra. In this advisory, the centre has highlighted the classification of motorcycles as contract carriages under section 2(7) of the Motor Vehicles (MV) Act, 1988.
The ban’s backgroundBike taxi services were banned in Delhi and Maharashtra for not following motor vehicle regulations. The main issue was using regular bikes for commercial purposes, breaking the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.
The Delhi government warned that running bike taxis without a proper commercial license would breach the law and the violators will be fined by up to Rs 10,000 and even license suspension for a period of up to 3 years. While bike taxi services faced a ban in Maharashtra and Delhi and failed to gain traction in Karnataka, states like Goa, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh have permitted their operations.
MoRTH's new guidelines“All the States/ UTs are advised to accept and process applications for contract carriage permits for motorcycles in accordance with the provisions of the MV Act and the rules thereunder,” the advisory said.
If states like Delhi and Maharashtra adopt MoRTH's guidelines, it could open the door to the return of bike taxi services. This would provide commuters with a much-needed alternative transportation mode, especially in congested urban areas. Additionally, it could create job opportunities and offer flexibility to individuals looking for a source of income.
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