Karnataka Transport Department to study to frame policy on bike taxis

The Karnataka Transport Department has set up a 10-member panel to prepare a detailed report on the functioning of bike taxis across the country in order to frame a policy for the State.

As part of the study, two officials each recently visited various cities in the country to examine how these cities regulate and manage bike taxi services. “The teams are looking at aspects such as fare structures, safety regulations, licensing norms, enforcement challenges, and the role of app-based aggregators. These findings will help us place informed suggestions before the high-level committee that is planning to draft Karnataka’s bike taxi framework,” said a senior Transport Department officer.

The government has also formed a high-level committee, chaired by N.V. Prasad, Secretary, Transport Department, to deliberate on the policy. The panel includes senior representatives from the Directorate of Urban Land Transport (DULT), Labour Department, Road Safety Cell, Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC), Bengaluru City Traffic Police, Law and Order Police, Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (BMRCL), Greater Bengaluru Authority, and the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board. The Additional Transport Commissioner and Secretary of the State Transport Authority serves as the member secretary of the committee.

The initiative comes against the backdrop of the State government’s ban on bike taxi operations earlier this year. Following the ban, major aggregators like Rapido and Uber introduced an alternative called Bike Direct, a zero-commission, non-profit service. This model links riders directly with customers, bypassing traditional aggregator platforms. According to operators, the idea is to allow independent drivers to continue earning while ensuring customers still have access to affordable last-mile mobility.