FIRs filed against Uber, Rapido in Maharashtra for flouting bike taxi norms

The Maharashtra Transport Department has registered FIRs against the directors of app-based aggregators Uber for allegedly violating state transport norms while operating bike taxi services. A similar FIR has been filed against Rapido as well.

The action follows recent fatal accident involving app-based bike taxis. On 29th Nov, a 49-year-old bike taxi passenger died in Mulund.

State Transport Commissioner Vivek Bhimanwar told CNBC-TV18 that, “The FIRs were triggered by this accident and serious violations of the conditions under which provisional permissions were granted to the aggregators. The permission given to these aggregators is only for e-bikes. However, non e-bikes and private motorcycles are being used.”
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He said, “These companies are not following the government-approved fare structure and are also flouting several safety norms, including the mandatory divider between the rider and a female passenger.”

He further added that FIRs have now been filed against both Uber and Rapido, and show-cause notices are also being issued to the companies. “The matter will be taken up further by the Maharashtra State Transport Department,” he said.

The FIR against Uber has been registered at Navghar Police Station in Thane, while the FIR against Rapido has been filed at Ghatkopar Police Station in Mumbai.

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Both companies have been accused of disobedience of lawful orders issued by public servants, using private vehicles as transport vehicles and using them for commercial purposes without permission, operating vehicles without valid registration, acting as agents without proper authority, and causing wrongful losses by cheating.