Bengaluru: At a time when the state transport department is cracking down on bike-taxi operations by seizing vehicles apart from threatening to suspend driving licences and registration certificates, Union minister for road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari has once again shown support for the service. The minister, while suggesting state govts permit private two-wheelers (white board) to operate as bike taxis, said the move would provide employment to around 8 crore people in the country.However, transport department officials maintain that the Centre’s suggestion is not binding on states and that bike taxis cannot operate in Karnataka without the state govt’s approval. A senior official said, “Proposals are not binding on the state govt. Allowing bike taxis is a policy decision, and these decisions are taken at the govt level.”The transport department has been vehemently opposing bike-taxi operations in the state, terming them illegal and citing safety risks. In Jan, a division bench of the Karnataka high court had lifted the ban on bike taxis and directed the department to allow such operations after considering applications from two-wheeler owners. However, the state govt approached the Supreme Court, challenging the order.Meanwhile, taxi aggregators have welcomed Nitin Gadkari’s suggestion. In a statement, Rapido said that the remarks build on the Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines, 2025, notified by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, which provide for state govts to permit non-transport motorcycles to carry passengers through licensed aggregators. “Consistent adoption of this framework across states can provide greater regulatory clarity for captains and commuters who rely on bike taxis for earning opportunities and daily mobility,” the release stated.Transport minister Byrathi Suresh was unavailable for comment on Gadkari’s suggestion.
