Kolhapur: The Regional Transport Office (RTO), Kolhapur, has taken action against 27 two-wheelers allegedly operating as bike taxis through the Rapido app without a valid aggregator licence. The drive resulted in the collection of fines totalling Rs 2.16 lakh.
The action followed implementation of the state’s aggregator policy through a home department resolution issued on May 20, 2025. Under Section 93 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, the Maharashtra Aggregator Rules, 2026, and Maharashtra Bike Taxi Rules, 2025, operating a bike taxi service without a valid licence is prohibited. Deputy regional transport officer Manoj Otari said, “If a two-wheeler is found transporting passengers through an unauthorised Rapido app or an unlicensed aggregator, strict legal action will be taken under Section 192-A for violation of Section 66 (1) of the Motor Vehicles Act. A fine of Rs 10,000 will be imposed on the driver and the owner who allows misuse of the vehicle.
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RTO officials said Roppen Transportation Services Private Limited, which operates Rapido, did not hold a valid aggregator licence from the Maharashtra State Transport Authority or the Regional Transport Authority, Kolhapur. Despite this, passenger transport services were found being offered through the app using two-wheelers in the district. RTO has appealed to two-wheeler owners not to register their vehicles with unauthorised bike taxi platforms or firms lacking a valid aggregator licence. It also warned against carrying passengers for hire, accepting fares through such apps, or participating in any unauthorised passenger transport activity. Download the TOI App.