Fadnavis Orders Review Of Taxi Aggregators’ Ride Allocation

Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik made a detailed presentation to the Chief Minister on the implementation of the aggregator vehicle policy under the Maharashtra Motor Vehicle Aggregator Rules, 2026, highlighting concerns over the livelihoods of independent taxi drivers and alleged disparities in ride allocation by app-based platforms.

The Chief Minister held a meeting on the Aggregator Rules, 2026, at his official residence, Varsha, where issues such as the increasing number of vehicles in the aggregator sector, problems faced by independent taxi drivers, passenger safety and transparency in fare distribution on digital platforms were reviewed. The meeting was attended by Sarnaik, Additional Chief Secretary of the Transport Department Sanjay Sethi, Transport Commissioner Rajesh Narvekar and other senior officials.

Fadnavis said it was essential that the registration details of every vehicle operated by aggregator companies, the parking locations used by them, information about the drivers concerned, driving licences, police verification records and other necessary documents be available in digital form. Similarly, the system should maintain updated records of which driver operates which vehicle across different shifts throughout the day.

The Chief Minister also said that a robust mechanism would be established to ensure that, in the event of an incident, complete information about the vehicle and driver concerned would be available immediately. “With the help of AI on this platform, analysis of vehicle operations, drivers’ shifts and other important aspects will be possible. This will not only enable monitoring of whether rules are being followed but also allow the concerned authorities to take prompt action as required,” he said.

According to an official, independent taxi drivers have raised concerns over alleged discrimination in trip allocation and preferential treatment for large fleet operators by app-based taxi aggregators. They claim that trip-allocation algorithms lack transparency, with airport trips and other high-value rides allegedly being prioritised for fleet vehicles, leaving individual drivers with less profitable trips and longer waiting times.

“Large fleet operators such as Everest Fleets, Move Fleet and Carrum Fleet receive preferential treatment on aggregator platforms. Independent drivers contend that this affects their earnings, employment opportunities and ability to sustain their businesses,” the official said, referring to the presentation made at the Chief Minister’s meeting.

Individual drivers have complained to the Transport Department that fleet vehicles receive longer-distance and higher-value trips, while independent drivers are often left with low-paying rides, traffic-heavy routes and empty return journeys after dropping off passengers. They have also alleged discriminatory enforcement of penalties, claiming that their accounts are blocked or fines are deducted for minor violations, while fleet operators do not face similar action in comparable cases.

The drivers have called for a transparent review of trip-allocation algorithms, uniform enforcement of penalties, a level playing field for independent drivers and effective government oversight of aggregator platforms.

At the meeting, the Chief Minister emphasised the need to examine the algorithms used by digital platforms to allocate rides. Fadnavis stressed that independent taxi drivers and vehicles operated by large fleet operators must receive equal opportunities in trip allocation. The system should allow scrutiny of which vehicle is assigned a ride, on what grounds and according to which criteria, so that any discrimination can be identified and addressed through technology.