Two-wheeler aggregator rules in Pune: Rapido told to stop unlicensed pilot service

Pune Collector Jitendra Dudi said on Thursday that Rapido was instructed to stop its pilot two-wheeler aggregator service in the city at once. Dudi said the service was running without a licence. Dudi added that legal action would begin from Friday if Rapido did not follow the order.

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Dudi said two-wheeler aggregator operations were not allowed without the required licence under existing law. Dudi said Rapido must follow current legal provisions until the licensing process was completed. Dudi also said the government would take a decision on the licensing process.

Rapido two-wheeler aggregator licence action in Pune

Dudi said the direction followed a meeting called after complaints from some cab and autorickshaw driver unions. The unions alleged that aggregators operating in Pune were not following rules. Dudi said no new policy decision was made in the meeting. Dudi said officials instead told aggregators to apply existing government guidelines.

Under the directions, aggregators must pass on 80 per cent of the fare to drivers. Dudi said this was part of the existing guidelines that authorities asked firms to implement. The instruction was linked to complaints about drivers not receiving their due share from some platforms.

Pune two-wheeler aggregator fare rules and RTO base rate

Dudi said fares charged by aggregators must stay within the allowed band set around the base rate. The permitted range was 25 per cent below and 50 per cent above the base rate fixed by the Regional Transport Office RTO. Authorities said complaints were received about fares being charged outside this limit.

Aggregators were also told to share monthly data with authorities to improve accountability. Dudi said this step aimed to help officials check fare practices and driver payments. Platforms were additionally asked to add a separate column in their apps. The column must show the RTO-prescribed fare like auto rickshaw rate displays.

Dudi repeated that two-wheeler aggregator services could not run without a licence as per current law. Dudi said Rapido was told to halt the pilot service immediately in Pune. Dudi added that authorities would start legal action from Friday if the company failed to comply. Officials said existing guidelines remained in force during the licensing process.

With inputs from PTI