Mumbai Orders Crackdown On App-Based Shuttle Buses, Services Face Suspension
Mumbai’s transport network is bracing for disruption as authorities launch a citywide crackdown on app-based shuttle bus services, including Uber Shuttle and Cityflo, for operating without valid permits. The action, triggered by concerns over unauthorised transport, could see more than 450 buses taken off roads by the weekend. With no official policy currently in place for such aggregators, daily commuters depending on these buses for suburban-to-city travel now face renewed uncertainty in the absence of reliable alternatives.
Authorities have initiated enforcement against app-based bus aggregators operating without the mandatory State Transport Department authorisation. Services under brands like Uber Shuttle and Cityflo, which connect distant suburbs such as Panvel, Thane, and Mira-Bhayandar to commercial zones like BKC and Nariman Point, are facing removal from the roads. Officials confirmed that many of these vehicles lack a Stage Carriage Permit under Section 72 of the Motor Vehicles Act, which governs public transport operations. Enforcement agencies have now been directed to conduct spot inspections and halt non-compliant services immediately. Sources indicated that Uber Shuttle may vanish from the app by Saturday, while operators have already begun pulling buses off routes fearing regulatory raids. Although some aggregator platforms claim to have applied for permits and submitted compliance documents, the lack of state-level approval remains a critical issue. Industry experts warn that this sudden disruption will adversely impact thousands of office-goers who rely on these shuttles.
The current crackdown highlights a regulatory vacuum surrounding India’s rapidly growing aggregator transport sector. While Uber Shuttle and Cityflo have secured licences in cities like Delhi and Kolkata, their operations in Mumbai were running as “pilot projects” without formal notification or policy cover. According to experts, the absence of a dedicated framework for such services has created friction between innovation and regulation. Stakeholders argue that these buses fulfil critical gaps left by Mumbai’s overstretched public transport, especially for long-distance AC commutes. Despite this, authorities maintain that unauthorised services pose risks to commuter safety and undermine regulatory oversight. Aggregator companies have expressed willingness to collaborate with authorities and formalise operations. However, until a structured policy emerges, enforcement actions are likely to intensify. Commuters, already burdened by limited BEST bus options on key routes, now face longer, costlier, and less reliable travel options amid the service disruptions.
As Mumbai clamps down on app-based shuttle buses, the disruption lays bare the city’s urgent need for a policy that balances commuter convenience with regulatory compliance. The sweeping enforcement affects not just aggregator platforms, but also thousands of daily passengers who saw these services as dependable alternatives. Experts believe that a formal framework could help integrate such models into Mumbai’s mobility ecosystem. Until then, the suspension of these services will continue to strain the city’s already overcrowded transport corridors, leaving commuters caught in a tug-of-war between innovation and legality.
