Pune RTO asks public not to book Rapido bike-taxi rides, warns private two-wheeler owners too

The Pune Regional Transport Office (RTO) has asked people in the city and the district not to book rides on Rapido's bike-taxi service. The RTO says Rapido does not hold the licence required to operate as a bike-taxi aggregator in the area.

The RTO has cautioned not only the company but also owners of private two-wheelers. They have been told not to link their vehicles to the platform and carry passengers. Vehicles found running as bike-taxis without permission can face action under the Motor Vehicles Act and related rules.

The warning follows a meeting held on October 15. It was chaired by Jitendra Dudi, the Pune Collector and chairman of the Regional Transport Authority (RTA). Transport authority officials, representatives of aggregator companies, and representatives of autorickshaw and taxi unions attended.

During the discussion, Dudi directed Rapido to keep its bike-taxi service shut across Pune district until it obtains the required licence as an e-bike-taxi aggregator. He also told officials that a police case should be registered if the company keeps offering rides without the necessary approval.

The RTO's public notice places responsibility on vehicle owners as well as the company providing the service. If a private two-wheeler is found during checks carrying passengers for payment without permission, it can face legal action.

The department has appealed to citizens not to use the service until the licence issue is resolved. It has also asked newspapers in Pune district to carry the notice so that commuters and vehicle owners know about the restrictions.

The notice follows an earlier direction from Dudi asking officials to stop Rapido's operations in the district. The matter has now moved towards enforcement. The RTO is registering a case, and the police have been asked to take steps to have the app removed from digital platforms.

The transport department's position is clear: bike-taxi services must meet the applicable licence conditions before they operate. People have been advised not to book rides on the service and not to register their private vehicles for unauthorised commercial use.