{
  "id": 298155,
  "title": "Swiggy, Zomato, Zepto May Face EV Mandate, 2% Welfare Levy In Maharashtra",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/08/swiggy-zomato-zepto-may-face-ev-mandate-2-welfare-levy-in-maharashtra",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-08T06:52:49.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Inc42",
    "slug": "inc42",
    "url": "https://inc42.com/buzz/swiggy-zomato-zepto-may-face-ev-mandate-2-welfare-levy-in-maharashtra/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "New-age consumer tech companies such as Swiggy, Zomato, Zepto, and Meesho might face higher expenses in Maharashtra due to potential bike-taxi rules. These proposed amendments to the Maharashtra Bike-Taxi Rules, 2025 would mandate electric vehicles, GPS tracking, insurance, and a 2% contribution from each trip’s fare to a driver welfare fund. However, the levy’s calculation method is uncertain as delivery services do not operate on fixed fares. The amendments, if approved, would integrate delivery services, ecommerce, and quick commerce platforms within Maharashtra’s bike-taxi regulatory framework for the first time. The state’s transport minister indicated the rules would apply to rides under 15 km, with EV and other compliance measures taking effect post-approval. Maharashtra's law and judiciary department are currently reviewing the proposal. Meanwhile, other states like Karnataka are tightening gig platform rules, with a proposed 1% platform levy on transactions. The proposed Maharashtra levy, if implemented, would add complexity to the already evolving state-level regulatory framework for gig workers and platform businesses, potentially raising operating costs for companies operating across multiple states.",
  "summary": "The Maharashtra government is considering amendments to the Bike-Taxi Rules, 2025, which could impact new-age tech consumer tech companies like Swiggy, Zomato, Zepto, and Meesho. These proposed changes would require covered platforms to adopt electric vehicles, implement GPS-based driver and vehicle tracking, provide insurance coverage, and contribute 2% of each trip's fare to a driver welfare fund. The welfare fund would support benefits such as pensions, accident insurance, EV purchase loans, and education assistance for drivers' children. However, the specifics of calculating the proposed levy on food delivery and ecommerce platforms are unclear, as these companies typically do not operate on fixed ride fares. If approved, these amendments would bring delivery service providers, ecommerce, and quick commerce platforms under Maharashtra's bike-taxi regulatory framework for the first time. The proposal is currently under review and has yet to receive final approval.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}