Maharashtra Gives Ola, Uber, Rapido 9 Months To Shift Bike Taxis To 100% Electric Fleet

The Maharashtra government has given bike taxi aggregators like Ola, Uber, and Rapido nine months to transition their fleets to entirely electric vehicles, according to The Indian Express. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis issued this directive to the State Transport Department, which will oversee the implementation of the change in stages.

Petrol-powered bike taxis currently in operation have six months to comply with the electric vehicle (EV) mandate, while those who have applied for provisional or temporary licenses under the Maharashtra Bike-Taxi Rules 2025 will have an additional three months. The state enacted new rules in July 2025 that made EVs compulsory for licensed bike taxis, allowing only yellow, electric two-wheelers to operate commercially.

Aggregators were initially granted provisional 30-day licenses to switch to electric vehicles, but these were revoked in March when they failed to comply. In September, the Maharashtra Bike Taxi Welfare Association asked for an extension of one-and-a-half years, and in some cases, even until 2030. Despite these requests, the government rejected a proposal to allow a 50:50 mix of petrol and electric motorcycles, citing concerns that companies might avoid purchasing more expensive electric vehicles.

The state also proposed a temporary daily fee of ₹5 for bike taxi services operating illegally in Maharashtra. Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik stated that aggregators must contribute 2% of each ride's fare to a welfare fund for bike taxi drivers. This new timeline provides operators with an extended period to meet Maharashtra's requirement for a fully electric commercial bike taxi fleet.