Govt issues advisory allowing use of personal two-wheelers as bike taxis; states to take final call

The road transport and highways ministry issued revised guidelines advising state governments to permit the use of personal motorcycles as taxis through aggregators, marking the first time the Centre has explicitly urged states to allow motorcycle taxi services using non-commercial two-wheelers.

Ride-hailing platforms, while welcoming the development, indicated that timely implementation of the guidelines by the states would be crucial.

The revised guidelines say that states may allow aggregation of personal motorcycles for shared mobility services through aggregators, which could result in “reduced traffic congestion and vehicular pollution, along with providing inter alia affordable passenger mobility, hyperlocal delivery, creating livelihood opportunities”.

The advisory follows the Karnataka High Court’s ban on motorcycle taxis in the absence of clear regulations governing such ride-hailing services.

The guidelines also say that states may impose fees on the aggregator for issuance of authorisations permitting non-commercial motorcycles for taxi operations on a daily, weekly or fortnightly basis, as may be determined by the state’s government.

“The Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines 2020 have been revised to keep the regulatory framework up to date with the developments in the motor vehicles aggregator ecosystem. The new guidelines (Motor Vehicles Aggregator Guidelines, 2025) attempt to provide a light-touch regulatory system while attending to issues of safety & security of the user and the welfare of the driver,” the road transport and highways ministry said in a letter to the state governments.

While the implementation of these guidelines will be finally decided by the states, ride-hailing platforms welcomed the move.

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“By recognising non-transport motorcycles as a means of shared mobility, the government has opened the door to more affordable transportation options for millions, especially in underserved and hyperlocal areas,” said urban mobility platform Rapido.

An Uber spokesperson said, “Timely adoption by states will be key to ensuring uniform implementation and building much-needed predictability for all stakeholders”.

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