FIR against Uber, Rapido in Maharashtra for violating bike taxi norms

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

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

State Transport Commissioner Vivek Bhimanwar told CNBC-TV18 that, “FIRs were filed due to this accident and serious violation of the conditions under which the provisional permission was given 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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“These companies are not following the government-approved fare structure and are also violating several safety norms, including mandatory dividers between the rider and the lady passenger,” he said.

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

The FIR against Uber has been lodged at Navghar police station in Thane, while the FIR against Rapido has been lodged at Ghatkopar police station in Mumbai.

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Both companies have been accused of disobeying lawful orders issued by public servants, using private vehicles as transport vehicles and for commercial purposes without permission, operating vehicles without valid registration, acting as agents without proper authorization and causing wrongful loss by fraud.