Ola, Uber, Rapido Get a Shock from Maharashtra Government..

The Maharashtra government has issued a major directive to bike taxi aggregators such as Ola, Uber and Rapido, requiring all bike taxi fleets operating in the state to transition to 100 per cent electric vehicles. The deadline for completing the transition has been set for July 2027. Operators currently using petrol-powered motorcycles will get six months in the first phase, while those who have applied for provisional or temporary licences under the Maharashtra Bike Taxi Rules, 2025, will receive an additional three months. This gives operators a total phased transition period of nine months.

The decision has triggered concerns among bike taxi riders and associations over the financial burden of purchasing electric vehicles and the lack of adequate charging infrastructure. The Maharashtra Bike Taxi Welfare Association had sought around 18 months for the transition, while aggregators reportedly requested an extension until 2030. However, the government has approved only a nine-month transition window, putting pressure on operators to rapidly shift their fleets to electric vehicles.