Bike taxi services across Karnataka came to a grinding halt on Monday after the High Court upheld its directive to suspend operations by app-based aggregators. In compliance with the ruling, ride-hailing platforms like Ola, Uber, and Rapido removed bike taxi options from their apps.
Karnataka Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy confirmed the move, stating the companies are legally bound to obey the court’s orders. “Three months ago, the court ruled bike taxis are illegal. It gave six weeks, then extended another six. With 12 weeks passed, the aggregators must comply,” Reddy said.
The latest decision came after a division bench of the Karnataka High Court refused to stay an earlier single-judge order issued on April 2, which had directed bike taxi services to shut down within six weeks unless specific rules were notified under the Motor Vehicles Act.
The bench, led by Acting Chief Justice V Kameshwar Rao and Justice Sreenivas Harish Kumar, rejected the appeals filed by Uber, Ola, and Rapido, noting that the state government had chosen not to draft any new regulatory framework—making a stay unjustifiable. The court has issued fresh notices and scheduled the next hearing for June 24.
Tanveer Pasha, president of the Ola Uber Drivers and Owners’ Association, demanded strict enforcement, calling on the state to seize bikes operating illegally and prosecute violators.
In response, Rapido released a statement expressing concern for its rider-partners. “We acknowledge the court’s decision. This is a difficult time for our captains who rely on this work. We remain committed to working with the government to develop a compliant and sustainable policy framework.”
Uber also confirmed it suspended bike taxi operations from June 16 and expressed hope for future engagement with the government to create progressive mobility policies that balance accessibility and safety.
The suspension has affected thousands of drivers and commuters who relied on affordable bike taxi services, raising questions about the future of gig economy transport in the state.
