Report submitted to the High Court states bike taxis violate motor laws, increase traffic pressure and cannot be permitted in the state.
A high-power committee formed by the Karnataka government has submitted a detailed report to the High Court, stating that bike taxi services are unsafe, legally impermissible and cannot be allowed to operate in the state. The panel was constituted to examine the advantages and disadvantages of permitting bike taxis and to evaluate legal, traffic and safety implications.
The committee was headed by the Secretary of the Transport Department and included 11 senior officials from key departments. Among the members were representatives from the Directorate of Urban Land Transport (DULT), Labour Department, Transport and Road Safety Department, BMTC, Bengaluru Traffic Police, Bengaluru City Police, BMRCL, Bruhat Bengaluru Authority and the State Pollution Control Board.
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As part of its study, the panel visited multiple states where bike taxis operate and compiled a comprehensive assessment. The report, now submitted to the government and the High Court, concludes that Karnataka has not granted approval for bike taxi operations and that an existing single-judge bench order already prohibits their use.
According to the findings, permitting bike taxis would violate the Central Motor Vehicles Act since private two-wheelers cannot be used for commercial passenger transport. The report notes that although many young riders use bikes for livelihood purposes, they already have employment through online food delivery platforms. Allowing the same vehicles to function as bike taxis would amount to a clear legal violation.
The committee also highlighted public safety concerns, stating that bike taxis pose higher accident risks and contribute significantly to traffic congestion in urban areas, particularly Bengaluru. It pointed out that the city already has established public transport options such as BMTC buses and metro services, which commuters can rely on instead of unregulated bike taxi operations.
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The report further states that running bike taxis without government approval is illegal and cannot be regularised under the current legal framework. The Karnataka State Private Transport Associations’ Federation has welcomed these observations, maintaining that commuters may find bike taxis convenient but services must operate only with lawful approval.
The High Court will now examine the committee’s findings as part of ongoing proceedings related to bike taxi operations in the state.