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Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik Books Rapido Ride to Bust Illegal Bike Taxis in Mumbai

Mumbai: In a bold hands-on move, Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik personally exposed the ongoing operation of illegal bike taxis in Mumbai — despite official claims denying their presence.

After being assured by a senior transport official that no unauthorised bike taxi services were currently active in the city, Sarnaik decided to test the reality himself. Using the Rapido app and booking under a false name, he arranged a ride from the state secretariat, Mantralaya, to Dadar.

Within ten minutes, a bike arrived to pick him up, proving that contrary to official reports, illegal services were very much functioning. The rider, unaware of his passenger’s identity, was met with a surprise when Sarnaik revealed himself: “I am the Transport Minister. These rules are for your benefit.”

Appreciating the rider’s honesty and cooperation, Sarnaik offered him ₹500 for his time — which the rider politely declined. The minister assured him that no legal action would be taken against him. “You are just trying to earn a livelihood. The real culprits are those running this illegal operation, and they must be held accountable,” he said.

Currently, Maharashtra has not granted formal permission to any bike taxi aggregators. According to the new e-bike policy, such services can only operate in cities with populations exceeding one lakh, and only after fulfilling strict regulatory criteria. However, since the policy is still awaiting official notification, bike taxi services remain illegal.

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