Gadkari urges states to allow bike taxis, citing 8 crore livelihood potential

Union minister Nitin Gadkari urged states on Wednesday to allow private motorcycle owners to operate as bike taxis, citing potential livelihoods for 8 crore people, but state governments retain final authority over implementation. The Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines, 2025 permit states to authorize aggregators using non-transport motorcycles, with each state setting its own conditions and fees. Karnataka has challenged a court ruling favoring bike taxis in the Supreme Court over safety concerns, while Maharashtra has already notified its rules. Gadkari made the remarks at the launch of 'Suraksha', a pilot programme offering free medical check-ups to highway and mining workers, alongside a proposed negative point system for traffic violations that could suspend repeat offenders' licences.