Rapido’s bike-taxi feature was still available in Pune on Oct. 26, reports said, as police sought the app’s removal while its state approval application remained pending.
The Times of India reported Oct. 26 that Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar confirmed officers had contacted Google Play and Apple’s App Store. The Free Press Journal also reported his confirmation. The communications were not available in the reports reviewed, so their precise scope has not been established.
Pune District Collector Jitendra Dudi, who chairs the Regional Transport Authority, had earlier asked the police commissioner to direct the cyber cell to disable Rapido’s bike-taxi function within the district, The Times of India and Punekar News reported. Dudi sent that request on Oct. 23. The later app-store contact was reported as seeking removal of the application, but its written terms were not published.
Regional Transport Office officials told The Times of India and the Free Press Journal that Rapido was still awaiting approval to operate bike taxis. Both outlets said the feature remained accessible on Oct. 26.
A Maharashtra Home Department resolution dated April 21, 2025, established a bike-taxi policy for cities with at least 100,000 residents. It requires operators to obtain a state-level license and maintain a fleet of at least 50 electric two-wheelers. The resolution also provided for separate rules to be issued.
The Indian Express and the Free Press Journal reported that an FIR alleges Rapido’s operator offered paid passenger trips on petrol-powered motorcycles registered for personal use rather than commercial transport. The allegations have not been established in court.
Some commuters told The Times of India the service helped where public transportation was limited. The newspaper also reported that autorickshaw unions opposed its continued availability, citing rider verification and passenger safety concerns.
The Times of India reported that autorickshaw and cab unions plan protests Wednesday, Oct. 28, and Monday, Nov. 2.
