RTO on Private two wheelers taxi services

If you are relying on two-wheeler taxis for local commuting, it’s crucial to exercise caution. Recently, the Regional Transport Office (RTO) suspended the license of a well-known bike taxi service for a month due to violations of established norms. Several incidents have been reported where private motorcycles with white number plates were registered on the mobile applications of bike taxi services, which is against the law.

Private motorcycles with white number plates are prohibited for use in two-wheeler taxi services. This regulation, enforced by the Department of Transport and RTO, mandates that only commercial vehicles, identifiable by yellow number plates, can be used as taxis. Despite this, there has been a noticeable increase in privately registered motorcycles operating as taxis across the city. Several auto-rickshaw associations have filed formal complaints with the Transport Department and RTO about this illegal practice. However, leaders of these associations allege that senior officials in the Transport Department are not taking adequate action against violators.

While two-wheeler taxis have become a popular and convenient way to navigate through traffic and save time, they also come with risks. According to Raj Sirke, the President of the Auto Rickshaw Drivers Welfare Association, the process of registering motorcycles on mobile taxi apps is alarmingly simple. Motorcycle drivers’ licenses are not thoroughly verified during the registration, which opens the door for individuals, including anti-social elements, to register their bikes on these platforms. These individuals sometimes position themselves near schools and colleges, enticing students to take rides. This creates significant safety concerns for passengers.

Subhash Bridge RTO officer J. J. Patel emphasized that there is a strict ban on using private motorcycles as taxis. He pointed out that the RTO recently suspended the license of a bike taxi service for breaching regulations and imposed penalties on the violators. The Transport Commissioner’s office also holds the authority to implement more stringent measures to ensure compliance and passenger safety in the future.