The Maharashtra government has recently approved the operation of bike taxis in the state, but with a caveat – only electric bikes (e-bikes) will be allowed to ply under the service. This has left many delivery executives and potential riders unhappy and disappointed. Ayaan Mushtaq Ahmed, a food delivery executive, expressed his concern about not being able to afford an e-bike and pointed out that all vehicles should either run on CNG or electricity. Atul Bapu Gotre, a shop assistant, echoed Ahmed’s sentiments, saying that buying an e-bike is unaffordable for him.
The decision has put the aggregators of bike taxis in a fix, as they will struggle to find rider partners with electric vehicles. The Maharashtra government has clarified that only e-bikes will operate as bike taxis, and that the aggregators will have to adopt a model where they buy electric vehicles and give them to rider partners.
The situation is further complicated by the fact that the number of electric vehicle registrations in Maharashtra has been declining, with only 11,650 electric two-wheelers registered in the last fiscal year, compared to 29,285 in the previous fiscal year. Many experts feel that the decision to allow only e-bikes is unrealistic and that a more practical approach would be to allow all types of two-wheelers, including those running on CNG or petrol, to operate as bike taxis.
Despite the challenges, many daily commuters are excited about the prospect of bike taxis and hope that they will provide a more affordable and convenient alternative to autorickshaws. The government has assured that rules will be formed and a notification issued within the next month or two, following which bike taxi operations are expected to begin.