Ola, Uber, Rapido: Maharashtra’s Bike Taxis Must Go 100% Electric In 2027 — But Which Month? | Mumbai-news News

Last Updated:October 06, 2026, 15:26 IST

Maharashtra has fixed a July 2027 deadline for fully electric bike taxi fleets, well short of the 18 months the riders’ association sought, amid cost and EV charging concerns.

Operators that have applied for provisional or temporary licences under the Maharashtra Bike Taxi Rules, 2025 get an additional three months.(Representational image)

Bike taxi aggregators, including Ola, Uber and Rapido, must run fully electric fleets in Maharashtra by July 2027. The State Transport Department has granted a nine-month phased transition window, following directions from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, despite pleas from riders and operators for far more time.

The department wrote in October to ride-hailing aggregators and Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) across the state, The Indian Express reported. Aggregators running petrol-powered bike taxis get six months in the first phase to comply.

Operators that have applied for provisional or temporary licences under the Maharashtra Bike Taxi Rules, 2025 get an additional three months.

The directive comes as bike taxi associations and riders have raised concerns over the mandatory switch, and as the state has stepped up action against unauthorised and non-compliant operations.

What Did The Bike Taxi Operators Ask For?

In September, the Maharashtra Bike Taxi Welfare Association wrote to Fadnavis, the State Transport Minister and the Transport Commissioner, seeking one and a half years to switch fully to EVs. Association president Amit Gawde said in The Indian Express report that most riders come from “middle or lower-middle-class backgrounds”, making a large one-time EV purchase difficult. He also pointed to thin charging infrastructure and the shorter life of electric vehicles.

Aggregators separately sought an extension until 2030, citing the Maharashtra Electric Vehicle Policy, according to a state government official quoted in the report. The government has granted only nine months.

Why Did The Government Reject A Petrol-Electric Mix?

State Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik had earlier told The Indian Express that the government first considered allowing a 50:50 mix of petrol and electric motorcycles.

The Cabinet rejected the idea, he said, over concerns that companies might skip buying costlier electric vehicles even when they could afford them.

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By when must bike taxi aggregators in Maharashtra transition to 100% electric fleets?

Bike taxi aggregators, including Ola, Uber, and Rapido, must run fully electric fleets in Maharashtra by July 2027 under a nine-month phased transition window granted by the State Transport Department.

How much time did the Maharashtra Bike Taxi Welfare Association request for the EV transition?

The Maharashtra Bike Taxi Welfare Association sought one and a half years to fully switch to electric vehicles, citing that many riders come from middle or lower-middle-class backgrounds and would struggle with a large one-time purchase.

Why did the Maharashtra Cabinet reject a proposed petrol-electric mix for bike taxis?

The State Cabinet rejected the idea of allowing a 50:50 mix of petrol and electric motorcycles over concerns that companies might skip purchasing costlier electric vehicles even when they could afford them.

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