Maharashtra orders Ola, Uber, Rapido to switch to all-electric bike taxis within nine months

Maharashtra’s transport ministry has set a nine-month timetable for ride-hailing platforms Ola, Uber and Rapido to convert all their bike-taxi services to electric vehicles. The order, issued on the direction of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, mandates that aggregators currently operating petrol-powered two-wheelers must meet the requirement within six months, with an additional three months granted to firms that hold provisional or temporary licences under the Maharashtra Bike-Taxi Rules, 2025.

The state introduced the electric-only rule in July of the previous year and revoked licences in March after aggregators failed to transition. A request by the Maharashtra Bike Taxi Welfare Association for a longer transition period was rejected, and a proposal for a mixed petrol-electric fleet was also turned down. Transport minister Pratap Sarnaik announced that operators must contribute 2 % of each fare to a driver welfare fund, and a daily ₹5 fee may be imposed on illegal services.