Bike Taxi / Odisha orders Uber, Rapido to disable bike taxi bookings within 15 days
·51 mins ago·2 min read
Key Points
The Odisha Crime Branch directed app-based ride-hailing platforms Uber and Rapido to disable passenger transport bookings using private, non-transport two-wheelers across the state within 15 days, citing alleged violations of motor vehicle regulations, with the communication dated November 10 asking the State Transport Authority to ensure compliance and submit an action-taken report.
Bhubaneswar, Nov 13: The Odisha Crime Branch directed app-based ride-hailing platforms Uber and Rapido to disable passenger transport bookings using private, non-transport two-wheelers across the state within 15 days, citing alleged violations of motor vehicle regulations.
In a communication dated November 10, the Crime Branch's Criminal Investigation Department (CID) asked the State Transport Authority (STA) to ensure that the platforms comply with the direction and submit an action-taken report.
The move follows a letter from the Transport Commissioner-cum-Chairman of the STA, dated October 28, 2026, seeking action against the use of unauthorised private two-wheelers for passenger transport through aggregator-based applications.
According to the Crime Branch communication, special enforcement reports submitted by the Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) in Kataka, Bhubaneswar-I and Bhubaneswar-II highlighted the alleged use of non-transport or private two-wheelers to carry passengers through the Uber and Rapido platforms.
In a communication dated November 10, the Crime Branch's Criminal Investigation Department (CID) asked the State Transport Authority (STA) to ensure that the platforms comply with the direction and submit an action-taken report.
The move follows a letter from the Transport Commissioner-cum-Chairman of the STA, dated October 28, 2026, seeking action against the use of unauthorised private two-wheelers for passenger transport through aggregator-based applications.
According to the Crime Branch communication, special enforcement reports submitted by the Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) in Kataka, Bhubaneswar-I and Bhubaneswar-II highlighted the alleged use of non-transport or private two-wheelers to carry passengers through the Uber and Rapido platforms.
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The practice was flagged as a violation of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, and the Odisha On-demand Transportation Technology Aggregators Guidelines, 2023.
The Crime Branch said separate letters had been issued to the nodal officers of Uber and Rapido on November 5, directing them to stop accepting bookings for passenger journeys on private two-wheelers in Odisha.
The platforms were asked to remove the relevant booking facility from their applications or disable it within the state through geo-fencing.
The restriction will apply to passenger transport services using unauthorised private two-wheelers. Approved cab and auto-rickshaw services will remain unaffected.
The Crime Branch also warned that failure to comply with the directions could invite action by the State Transport Department and the competent authorities of the Central Government under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act.
The practice was flagged as a violation of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, and the Odisha On-demand Transportation Technology Aggregators Guidelines, 2023.
The Crime Branch said separate letters had been issued to the nodal officers of Uber and Rapido on November 5, directing them to stop accepting bookings for passenger journeys on private two-wheelers in Odisha.
The platforms were asked to remove the relevant booking facility from their applications or disable it within the state through geo-fencing.
The restriction will apply to passenger transport services using unauthorised private two-wheelers. Approved cab and auto-rickshaw services will remain unaffected.
The Crime Branch also warned that failure to comply with the directions could invite action by the State Transport Department and the competent authorities of the Central Government under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act.
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