Register FIRs Against Illegal Bike Taxi Operators: Nakhate
Auto-Taxi Drivers’ Federation Warns of Indefinite Sit-In Protest if No Action Is Taken Within Eight Days
Pimpri-Chinchwad : The Kashtakari Rickshaw-Taxi Drivers’ Sangharsh Mahasangh has demanded that criminal cases be registered against companies allegedly operating bike taxi services without valid licences in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad. The organisation has also called for the seizure of vehicles operating illegally and action to shut down the associated apps.
Federation president Kashinath Nakhate warned that an indefinite sit-in protest would be launched outside the Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) and the Pune District Collector’s Office if the authorities fail to take concrete action within eight days.
A meeting of rickshaw drivers organised by the federation was held at Thermax Chowk in Chinchwad on Wednesday. Convenor Nana Kasbe, organiser Vishal Sarvade, Sachin Murgund, Babasaheb Sarvade, Raju Honmane, Dada Khandekar, Raju Borade, Kishor Tonpe and Manoj Ghodke were among those present.
According to the federation, the Pune Regional Transport Office stated in a press release issued on October 26, 2026, that Rapido did not possess a valid bike taxi aggregator licence. Despite this, the federation alleged that bike taxi services associated with companies such as Rapido, Uber and Ola continued to operate in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad.
The organisation claimed that such services were affecting the livelihoods of thousands of auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers who operate in compliance with applicable rules. It also raised concerns about passenger safety, particularly in cases involving vehicles allegedly operating without the necessary permits, insurance or regulatory compliance.
The federation has demanded strict action against such services, including the registration of criminal cases, seizure of vehicles and measures to disable apps facilitating unauthorised operations. It has also called for appropriate cybercrime-related action wherever applicable.
Expressing dissatisfaction with the authorities’ response, rickshaw drivers at the Chinchwad meeting decided to intensify their agitation if their demands were not addressed within the stipulated period.
“Authorities must not ignore the difficulties faced by hardworking rickshaw and taxi drivers who conduct their business by following the law. Multiple criminal cases should be registered against companies operating bike taxis without valid permits, their vehicles should be seized, and illegal services should be shut down. If concrete action is not taken within eight days, we will launch an indefinite sit-in protest,” Nakhate warned.
