The Maharashtra government has formed a six-member committee to develop draft norms for regulating the operations of online ride-hailing platforms such as Ola and Uber in the state. The panel will be headed by ex-IAS officer Sudhir Shrivastava and comprise other senior officials from the state’s traffic and transport departments. The committee is expected to submit a report on the matter in the next three months, with recommendations that may include capping surge pricing, strengthening consumer redressal systems, and other safety measures such as installing panic buttons. The new guidelines will enable the state government to prosecute erring platforms for non-compliance of rules. The entire spectrum of ride-hailing services, be it bikes, autos, or cabs, is dominated by Ola and Uber, with Rapido emerging as a big player in the auto and bike taxi segments. The Indian taxi hailing space is projected to soar to INR 6,159 Cr by 2024. Despite the regulatory challenges faced by ride-hailing startups in India, the industry is still growing at a healthy rate. Ola and Uber continue to dominate the market for all types of ride-hailing services, while Rapido has emerged as a significant player in the auto and bike taxi segments. The Indian taxi hailing market is projected to reach INR 6,159 Crores by 2024, indicating strong potential for growth in the years to come.
In addition to the regulatory issues faced by ride-hailing startups in Maharashtra, other Indian states have also implemented bans or restrictions on certain types of services. For example, the Karnataka government banned app-based auto services in October, while Delhi transport officials barred all bike taxi services in the national capital earlier in the year. These moves reflect a broader trend of Indian authorities taking a more cautious approach to the regulation of ride-hailing services, often citing concerns around safety and compliance with local laws. However, despite these challenges, the Indian taxi hailing market is expected to continue to grow in the years ahead.