Karnataka HC orders bike taxi ban as apps like Rapido, Ola and Uber halt services

In a significant setback for app-based bike taxi operators, the Karnataka High Court has directed companies like Rapido, Ola, and Uber to suspend their bike taxi services across the state within six weeks. 

The court ruled that these services cannot operate until the government establishes proper regulations under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.

The decision was made because there are no clear rules for bike taxis in Karnataka. The court has given the state government three months to create proper guidelines. Until then, all bike taxi services must stop.

This ruling follows the failure of Karnataka’s electric bike taxi scheme, launched in July 2021, which aimed to encourage EV adoption but received little interest from companies.

Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy supported the court’s decision, citing rising safety concerns and the lack of oversight for app-based bike taxi services.

The services have also been met with resistance from auto-rickshaw drivers in Bengaluru, leading to several confrontations over the past year.

Meanwhile, other states like Delhi and Maharashtra have made progress by allowing electric bike taxis under regulated frameworks. Karnataka is expected to follow suit once its new rules are finalized.

Rapido, which has been operating in Bengaluru since 2016, will now have to pause its services temporarily until further notice.