Mumbai: Maharashtra transport minister Pratap Sarnaik’s plan to bring food delivery and e-commerce platforms such as Swiggy, Zomato and Zepto under the state’s proposed bike taxi policy is unlikely to be implemented anytime soon due to significant legal and regulatory constraints. “The matter is under discussion as of now. This cannot be done unless the Centre changes the rules for the entire country,” Sarnaik said on Saturday.The proposed policy envisages stricter regulation of aggregators, including a requirement to maintain an electric vehicle fleet and contribute 2% of every ride fare towards a welfare fund for drivers. However, Sarnaik clarified that the plan remains at the “discussion stage” and cannot be enforced by the state govt without changes to central legislation.He added that Union ministry of road transport and highways would have to amend relevant provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act before states could extend bike taxi regulations to food delivery and e-commerce platforms.The minister pointed out that the key challenge arises from existing central regulations governing low-powered two-wheelers commonly used for delivery services. Under Section 2(28) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, only two-wheelers with engine capacities above 25cc, or electric vehicles exceeding 250 watts in power and capable of speeds above 25 kmph, are classified as motor vehicles requiring registration and licensing.Vehicles that fall below these thresholds enjoy several regulatory exemptions. These include exemption from Regional Transport Office (RTO) registration, registration certificates, driving licences, third-party motor insurance and pollution certificates.Officials said that because many delivery vehicles operate within these exempt categories, Maharashtra cannot independently subject them to provisions proposed under the bike taxi policy. Any move to regulate such vehicles, impose aggregator obligations or extend welfare fund contributions would require amendments at the national level, making the proposal a complex legal and policy challenge that is unlikely to see immediate implementation.
