Bengaluru
The Karnataka government has set up a high-level committee to examine and recommend regulations for bike-taxi services in the state, amid ongoing legal challenges over their operation.
Why & legal context
The decision follows a Karnataka High Court order in April 2025 that directed the suspension of bike-taxi services across the state. Major operators—Uber India Systems, Ola, Rapido, ANI Technologies, and the Bike Taxi Welfare Association—had challenged the ban in court.
The High Court labelled the blanket ban “arbitrary, unreasonable, and violative of Articles 14 and 19(1)(g)” of the Constitution. It also recognised bike-taxi as a legitimate business.
Committee formation & composition
The committee was formed on 10 September 2025. It is chaired by N. V. Prasad, Secretary, Transport Department.
The members include the Commissioner of the Urban and Land Transport Department, Labour Department Commissioner, Transport and Road Safety Commissioner, and the Managing Director of Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation. Senior officers from the Police Department, Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd, Greater Bengaluru Authority, and the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board are also part of the committee.
The Additional Transport Commissioner and Secretary of the State Transport Authority will serve as the Member-Secretary.
What the committee is expected to do
The committee will examine operational and regulatory issues surrounding bike-taxi services and submit a report with recommendations addressing legal, safety, labour, and pollution concerns.
It will also review the state’s position in response to the High Court’s direction to frame a comprehensive bike-taxi policy by 22 September.
Recent developments & tensions
Rapido and Uber resumed operations in late August 2025, claiming a return to service despite the suspension. However, the government has argued that these services violated the High Court’s order.
The court had only restrained coercive action against individual riders, without granting clear permission for aggregators to restart services.
Concerns & implications
Legal uncertainty continues for service providers, commuters, and law enforcement. Public safety, traffic management, labour rights of riders, and environmental impacts are central to the debate.
A comprehensive policy, if framed, could become a regulatory model not just for Karnataka but also for other states looking to manage app-based transport services.
Conclusion
The committee reflects the Karnataka government’s effort to strike a balance between innovation and regulation in public transport. With the court’s deadline for a policy approaching, its recommendations may shape the future of bike-taxis in the state and beyond.