Mumbai: In a dramatic sting operation, Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik caught app-based service Rapido running illegal petrol bike taxis on Mumbai’s roads.
The minister booked a ride using a fake name through the Rapido app. Within 10 minutes, a bike arrived at Shahid Babu Genu junction near the state secretariat to pick up the “passenger”—who turned out to be Sarnaik himself.
This bold move exposed the gap between official claims and ground reality. Just days earlier, the Transport Department had assured Sarnaik in writing that no such illegal services were operating anywhere in the state.
But the minister’s surprise check told a different story.
Maharashtra recently introduced a new e-bike taxi policy. According to this, only electric bikes are allowed for taxi services. Petrol or non-electric bikes are banned for commercial use. Companies must meet strict compliance rules to operate legally.
Despite this, several app-based bike taxis continue to function openly on the roads.
The sting has embarrassed the Transport Department, which now faces tough questions. Why did officials say no illegal apps were operating? Were they unaware of the reality—or choosing to ignore it?
The minister’s direct action has exposed possible negligence or misreporting by officers.
The big question now is: Will action be taken against the officers who gave false information? Also, what penalties will the government impose on companies like Rapido that break the law?
This incident has brought to light lack of passenger safety checks, poor enforcement, and the need for stronger regulation of app-based transport services.
With the growing demand for affordable last-mile travel, the need for clear rules and tough enforcement has become more urgent than ever.
Minister Sarnaik’s sting has made one thing clear:
There is a huge gap between policy on paper and what’s happening on the streets.
