File photo
Pune: The state transport department will take a final call on whether Ola , Uber and Rapido can continue operating cabs in Maharashtra , after meeting representatives of the aggregators and consulting chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sept 4
Licensing Issues for Cab Aggregators in Maharashtra
The deadline for cab aggregators to obtain licenses under Maharashtra’s new policy expired on September 1, and Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik confirmed that none of the three major aggregators have secured the necessary permits to operate in the state.
“During the meeting, we will ask them why they could not secure a licence. We will also consult the CM on the issue,” Sarnaik stated. He emphasized that the cab aggregator policy was introduced last month and that the companies had sufficient time to comply with the licensing requirements.
In Pune, Uber and Rapido applied for licenses to operate e-bike taxis, while only Rapido sought a license for traditional cab services. However, as noted by Pune RTO officer Archana Gaikwad, none of the applications have been granted approval yet.
A senior official at the RTO indicated that they are waiting for instructions from the state transport department before proceeding with any enforcement actions against the aggregators. “If we receive directions to initiate action, it will be done. This could mean that aggregator cabs will not be allowed to operate. At present, we have not received any such order from the higher authorities,” the official said.
Gaikwad explained that the applications are currently under review and must meet all policy requirements for both cab and e-bike taxi operations. “In both cases, the aggregators need to fulfil all the requirements, failing which the applications are bound to be rejected. The process could take time,” she added.