HomeLatestMumbai Uber Shuttle Banned, Thousands of Suburban Commuters Affected

Mumbai Uber Shuttle Banned, Thousands of Suburban Commuters Affected

Uber’s premium Shuttle service will be taken off Mumbai roads starting Saturday, following a state transport review that found the service operating without mandatory permits. The sudden halt is set to impact thousands of office-goers commuting daily from suburban areas such as Panvel, Kalyan, Thane, and Mira-Bhayandar to business hubs like BKC, Worli, and South Mumbai. With no official timeline for return, commuters depending on the app-based buses now face uncertainty and extended travel times.

Launched as a pilot project, Uber’s Shuttle service was designed to offer suburban commuters a comfortable and app-based alternative to crowded trains and unreliable autos. Operating more than 100 routes with a fleet of 450 to 500 white-liveried buses, the service charged fares between ₹90 to ₹250 per seat depending on distance and time. With over 432,000 users registered in Mumbai alone, the service saw steady demand from areas such as Borivali, Kandivali, Kharghar, and Powai, connecting them directly to workplaces in BKC and Nariman Point. However, the recent scrutiny revealed that these buses were functioning without the legally mandated Stage Carriage Permit under Section 72 of the Motor Vehicles Act, which specifies route, timing, and fare structure for public transport vehicles. Authorities confirmed that enforcement teams from Regional Transport Offices would begin inspecting and removing unauthorised vehicles. Uber, meanwhile, issued internal instructions to partner operators to cease operations.

According to experts, the lack of official authorisation reflects wider issues with app-based aggregator transport models in India’s metro cities. Uber Shuttle, while legally licensed in Delhi, was running in Mumbai without a formal public announcement or route approval. Transport officials indicated that the company had not sought full regulatory clearance despite operating city-wide. Industry insiders suggest the grey area lies in Uber classifying the service as a pilot, sidestepping the permit process for full-scale operations. The disruption has already triggered concern among daily commuters, many of whom relied on the service to bypass last-mile gaps in public transport. The service’s absence is expected to strain existing city transport systems and could lead to congestion during peak hours. While Uber claims to be in discussions with authorities to regularise the service, no immediate reinstatement timeline has been confirmed. Similar scrutiny is expected for other aggregator-operated shuttle services running under unclear licensing frameworks.

The suspension of Uber Shuttle in Mumbai underscores the regulatory challenges facing tech-driven mobility platforms in India. As authorities ramp up enforcement of permit rules, thousands of daily commuters are left seeking alternative modes of transport. The move also highlights a growing tension between innovation in urban transport and compliance with long-standing laws. Whether Uber can return with a fully authorised and scalable model remains uncertain. For now, the city’s office-goers must brace for longer commutes and reduced convenience—until a clearer path emerges for legal app-based shuttle services.

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Mumbai Uber Shuttle Banned, Thousands of Suburban Commuters Affected
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