With the rapid growth of urbanization and increasing traffic congestion, bike taxis have become a convenient and efficient mode of transportation in India. These two-wheeler services offer commuters many advantages, such as reduced travel time, cost-effectiveness, and easy accessibility.
The Supreme Court of India recently pulled the plug on bike taxi aggregators such as Uber and Rapido operating in Delhi. The court has overturned the previous decision of the Delhi High Court, which had permitted these services to operate in the national capital.
The Supreme Court’s ruling prohibits these services until a final policy for operating non-transport vehicles is officially announced. The transport department of Delhi banned the usage of bikes with private registrations to carry passengers back in February of this year.
The ruling was in response to the Delhi government’s two pleas against the Delhi High Court order that had allowed bike taxi aggregators to operate until the final policy on non-transport vehicles was established.
The Delhi government had issued an order warning the aggregators of potential fines of up to Rs 1 lakh if they are unwilling to comply with the new regulation. In response, Rapido’s parent company filed a petition in Delhi High Court seeking immediate relief against the Delhi government’s order.
The petition argued that the Delhi government’s actions were contrary to the intent of the Motor Vehicles Act, as the authorities still need to provide specific guidelines regarding the utilization of non-transport vehicles for ride-sharing services.
They also argued that they provide cost-effective transportation, reduce traffic, and create job opportunities. However, concerns were raised regarding the safety, lack of proper licensing, and potential exploitation of drivers.
Bike taxis are super convenient and have gained immense popularity due to their affordability and time-saving. With the ban, there will be many consequences that have to be faced both by the aggregators and the drivers.
Additionally, commuters will have limited options and might have to spend and wait longer to commute. Hence, the government must draft clear rules and regulations to balance the benefits of bike taxis.
The Supreme Court’s decision to ban bike taxis in New Delhi reflects the court’s concern regarding the absence of a clear regulatory framework for these services. Regulations are inevitable, especially in a large country like India, to ensure passengers’ and drivers’ safety.
