The Ahmedabad Regional Transport Office has issued notices to Rapido, Ola and Uber over the alleged use of privately registered two-wheelers for paid bike-taxi services, according to a report by Times of India – Ahmedabad. The companies have been asked to respond within seven days on why their aggregator licences should not be suspended or cancelled.
The notices reportedly question whether the platforms are operating vehicle categories that are outside the scope of their aggregator licences. The RTO’s stated position, as reported, is that aggregator licences were issued for specified categories of commercial vehicles, including taxis, autorickshaws and commercially registered two-wheelers.
The notice issued to Ola’s operator, ANI Technologies Pvt Ltd, reportedly asks the company to explain its use of private motorcycles for paid rides. The RTO’s notice says Ola’s licence covers autorickshaws, taxis and commercially registered two-wheelers, while the platform is alleged to be offering rides through privately registered motorcycles.
Uber India Systems Pvt Ltd faces a similar question over its bike-taxi operations. According to the report, the company’s licence covers autorickshaws and four-wheel taxis, but its app also offers rides on privately registered motorcycles. The RTO has asked Uber to explain the basis for those services under its current licence.
Rapido’s operator, Roppen Transportation Services Pvt Ltd, has been questioned over both bike-taxi and four-wheel taxi services. The notice reportedly states that Rapido’s licence covers transport-category autorickshaws, while alleging that the platform also aggregates privately registered motorcycles and taxis.
The notices refer to possible violations of the Motor Vehicle Aggregators Guideline 2020 and other transport department rules and regulations. The reported action places the licensing status of the three platforms at the centre of Ahmedabad’s ongoing dispute over app-based two-wheeler transport.
The issue concerns more than the operation of individual motorcycles. It also involves how state transport authorities classify vehicles used for commercial passenger services, and whether a platform’s digital aggregation licence extends to vehicle categories not expressly included in that licence. A suspension or cancellation proceeding could affect drivers, commuters and the availability of app-based short-distance rides in the city.
State-based auto unions have opposed the use of two-wheeler taxis by ride aggregators, according to the report. Their opposition adds an organised transport-sector dimension to the licensing dispute, although the supplied material does not record the companies’ responses to the notices.
The companies have seven days to submit their replies to the Ahmedabad RTO. The authority’s next decision will determine whether the notices lead to further regulatory action against the platforms or are resolved through their responses.
