Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik said only Bharat Taxi and Deodatta Taxi have been granted aggregator licences so far. File Pic
Your browser doesn’t support HTML5 audio
Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik on Thursday said app-based taxi aggregators, including Ola, Uber and Rapido, must apply for an aggregator licence by 1 September or face action from the state transport authorities, reported the PTI.
Speaking to reporters at Mantralaya in Mumbai, Sarnaik said that the Maharashtra government has already notified the Maharashtra Motor Vehicle Aggregator Rules, 2026, and is ready to grant licences to all eligible aggregators that comply with the regulations.
Sarnaik said only Bharat Taxi and Deodatta Taxi have been granted aggregator licences so far.
He directed Maharashtra Transport Commissioner Rajesh Narvekar to issue a notification setting 1 September as the final deadline for other app-based taxi operators to submit their licence applications.
The minister said aggregators that apply before the deadline will receive licences, provided they meet the prescribed conditions, the news agency reported.
Action against non-compliant operators
According to the PTI, Pratap Sarnaik warned that companies failing to obtain the required licence or violating the notified rules would face action from the transport department.
He said all licensed aggregators would be required to operate strictly in accordance with the state’s regulatory framework.
New aggregator rules
The Maharashtra government notified the Maharashtra Motor Vehicle Aggregator Rules, 2026 on 15 July to regulate app-based taxi services across the state.
The rules introduce a uniform framework requiring all aggregators to obtain a valid licence and a Unique Licence Identification Number (ULIN) before operating. They also include provisions related to passenger safety, fare regulation and driver welfare.
The notification further states that licences issued under the previous framework will remain valid for 60 days from the commencement of the new rules or until fresh applications are decided, whichever is earlier.
Earlier, Sarnaik said the move aims to make app-based transport services safer, more transparent, accountable, and better regulated. He said the policy would boost government revenue, prioritise passenger safety, protect drivers’ financial interests, and create new employment opportunities for local youth.
He had said that lakhs of passengers use app-based transport services across Maharashtra every day. However, the absence of a uniform regulatory framework had led to concerns over passenger safety, drivers’ earnings, arbitrary fare pricing, delays in grievance redressal, and loss of government revenue.
Under the new policy, every aggregator operating in Maharashtra will be required to obtain a licence from the state transport authority. Each company will be issued a unique licence identification number after paying the prescribed fee, enabling better regulation of the sector while increasing state revenue.
(with PTI inputs)
