Policy Announcement
The Maharashtra Transport Department issued a statewide direction to all Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) and to aggregators holding provisional bike‑taxi licences, permitting a phased transition of bike‑taxi fleets from petrol‑powered two‑wheelers to 100 % electric vehicles. The direction, communicated on 1 October 2026, outlines a nine‑month transition window divided into two phases: an initial six‑month period followed by a three‑month extension. Aggregators operating under the Maharashtra Bike Taxi Rules, 2025, or those with provisional licences must achieve full electric‑bike inclusion in their fleets by the end of this period.
Rationale and Government Support
Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Shri Nitin Gadkari has urged all states to allow private two‑wheelers to operate as bike‑taxis, stating that the model could create livelihood opportunities for approximately 8 crore people nationwide. In the same communication, Maharashtra’s Chief Minister Shri Devendra Fadnavis and Transport Minister Shri Pratap Sarnaik were commended by the Bike Taxi Association for adopting a practical, forward‑looking approach that balances implementation realities with the state’s clean‑mobility objectives.
Expected Impact
The phased timeline is intended to give drivers additional time to acquire electric two‑wheelers and to integrate into a regulated bike‑taxi ecosystem without an immediate transition burden. The association expects the move to enhance first‑ and last‑mile connectivity in cities such as Pune, Mumbai, Nagpur and Nashik, complementing metros, buses, autos and cabs, while providing flexible earning opportunities for drivers seeking supplemental household income.
Implementation Outlook
With the policy framework now in place and the nine‑month transition schedule announced, the Maharashtra government aims to accelerate deployment so that commuters and drivers across the state can realise the benefits of electric bike‑taxis at scale.
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