Nagpur's Illegal Bike-Taxi Services Persist Despite Fatal Accident and Regulatory Crackdown
In Nagpur, illegal app-based bike-taxi services continue to operate across the city, creating significant concerns about commuter safety and exposing regulatory gaps. This troubling situation persists even after a fatal accident earlier this month and multiple enforcement drives conducted by transport authorities.
Reality Check Reveals Ongoing Operations
A recent investigation has confirmed that the bike-taxi application remains fully active and continues to offer rides throughout various parts of Nagpur. This ongoing operation occurs despite action initiated by the Regional Transport Office (RTO), highlighting the challenges in effectively regulating these services.
Tragic Accident Highlights Safety Risks
The issue gained urgent attention following a devastating accident on the night of February 7th. The incident claimed the life of Vivek Borkar, a 38-year-old bike-taxi rider who was transporting a passenger from Chhatrapati Square to Hingna.
During this journey, Borkar's two-wheeler collided with a moped near Radhe Mangalam Chowk in Pratap Nagar. Both the moped rider and the passenger sustained serious injuries in the initial impact. Tragically, all three individuals fell onto the road, where a speeding SUV subsequently ran over Borkar, killing him instantly at the scene.
A video recording of this horrific incident later circulated widely on social media platforms, shocking residents and amplifying calls for stricter regulation of bike-taxi services.
RTO Crackdown and Its Limitations
Following the fatal accident, the Regional Transport Office launched an intensified crackdown against bike-taxi riders operating in Nagpur. However, these enforcement efforts have proven insufficient to stop the services completely.
Kiran Bidkar, an RTO (city) official, provided details about the regulatory response. "Since the accident, we have taken action against 35 bike-taxi riders and seized their vehicles," Bidkar explained. "Even before this tragic incident, we conducted multiple enforcement drives and filed written complaints at three police stations to register a case against the owner of the application."
Bidkar emphasized the fundamental limitation of current enforcement strategies: "Taking action against bike-taxi drivers is not enough; the application itself should be banned. This app is operating illegally in many cities, including throughout Maharashtra."
Regulatory Challenges and Licensing Issues
The company operating the bike-taxi service had previously applied for an aggregator licence in Nagpur but failed to meet essential requirements. These included:
- Procuring appropriate vehicles for commercial transport
- Registering drivers with the Regional Transport Office
- Submitting all mandatory documents required for legal operation
Bidkar further revealed that the transport authorities have escalated the matter, stating, "The issue was discussed with the transport commissioner, and we have written to the commissioner regarding this persistent problem."
Need for Higher-Level Intervention
Sources familiar with the situation indicate that the matter requires intervention at the highest administrative levels. Ground-level action against individual riders has proven inadequate to halt the service effectively.
Officials believe that unless strict regulatory measures are implemented directly against the application itself, illegal bike-taxi operations will likely continue throughout Nagpur. This ongoing situation creates ongoing risks for commuters and highlights the need for comprehensive regulatory solutions that address both the platform and its operators.
