Rapido’s two-wheeler contract carriage permit request rejected by Karnataka transport minister

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

Rapido on Tuesday urged the Karnataka government to issue contract carriage permits to two-wheelers and bike taxis, just days after the Congress regime rolled back its 2021 electric bike taxi policy citing its misuse.

The Bengaluru-based bike taxi and auto aggregator urged the government to adopt a comprehensive approach in line with the provisions of the Motor Vehicle Act and the recent advisory from the Road Transport and Highways ministry on granting contract carriage permit to two wheelers.

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The withdrawal of the bike taxi policy, a Rapido statement said, reflected the “government's commitment to fostering a conducive environment for innovation and growth within the ride-hailing sector.”

Transport minister Ramalinga Reddy, however, rejected the demand. “We have no plans to give contract carriage permits to two-wheelers in near future,” the minister told ET.

Rapido cofounder Pavan Guntupalli said his company believed the revised approach would facilitate the grant of contract carriage permits to two-wheelers and bike taxis, aligning Karnataka with states that have successfully implemented similar models. “This move is not only crucial for the growth of the sector but also ensures compliance