Maharashtra’s Cyber Department issues notices to Apple and Google following concerns about app-based bike taxi operations in the state. Multiple reports say the action follows a request from Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik, who writes to the Cyber Department on May 12 seeking measures against bike taxi aggregators operating without authorisation.
The notices allege that platforms including Uber, Ola and Rapido are offering passenger bike taxi services in violation of provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act and relevant Transport Department regulations. Authorities also cite inadequate safety measures, and they ask Apple and Google to remove the affected applications from their app stores.
Mint reports that the order comes with the prospect of legal action against the companies if they do not comply. NDTV and News18 India similarly report that the state has written to Apple and Google and is pushing for removal of the apps from the App Store and Play Store. The notices are part of a wider crackdown targeting bike-taxi aggregation services operating in Maharashtra.
