In a major relief for Bengaluru commuters, the ban on bike taxis was revoked on Friday (January 23), once again providing access to platforms including
Uber, Ola, and Rapido to offer bike taxi services to commuters. The Karnataka High Court permitted the operation of bike taxis across the state. A division bench comprising Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice CM Joshi set aside the earlier ruling, affirming that authorities cannot deny registration or permits based on the classification of motorcycles under the Motor Vehicles Act.
What Did the Court's Ruling Say on Bike Taxi Operations?
The court directed the state government to consider applications for registering motorcycles as transport vehicles and to grant permits for contract carriage operations.
"In view of the above, taxi owners are at liberty to file applications for registration of the vehicle as a transport vehicle," the bench stated. It added that the regional transport authority may impose necessary conditions while issuing permits, but these should not prevent motorcycles from operating as transport vehicles.
The ruling came in response to appeals filed by aggregators, including Uber India Systems, ANI Technologies (Ola), Roppen Transportation Services (Rapido), and the Bike Taxi Owners’ Welfare Association. These appeals challenged a prior order from April 2025, which had restricted bike taxi operations due to the absence of specific guidelines under Section 93 of the Motor Vehicles Act.
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Bike Taxi Ban in Bengaluru
The ban was prompted by concerns over safety, law-and-order issues, and protests from auto and taxi unions.
Then, the single judge had ruled that without appropriate guidelines, bike taxi aggregators could not operate. However, the division bench emphasised that the Motor Vehicles Act allows two-wheelers to function as contract carriages, thus invalidating the previous restrictions.
What's Next for Bike Taxi Services
After the court's ruling, the Karnataka government is now required to consider pending applications for motorcycle registrations. The bench also granted the liberty for aggregators to submit new applications for permits, which must be evaluated in accordance with the law and the court's observations.
The ruling is expected to bring much-needed relief to those engaged in the bike taxi business, encouraging a more competitive and efficient transport sector in Bengaluru.
