Mumbai: Even as the state govt on Tuesday said it is taking steps to prevent bike-taxis from plying across Maharashtra, Bombay high court directed it to file a compliance report regarding the measures.Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Sandeep Marne was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by autorickshaw drivers who ply in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). They sought direction to the police commissioners to issue standing orders to the traffic police across the state to detain and impound all non-transport category bike-taxis plying for commercial purposes in Maharashtra.The state’s advocate Prachi Tatke said bike-taxis are prohibited in view of a Jan 19, 2023, govt resolution (GR). She said in entire Maharashtra directions are given to all regional transport offices (RTO) that no two-wheeler bike-taxis should be allowed to ply in the city. Action is taken including in Thane and Mumbai suburbs and four FIRs have been registered. “The revenue collection is substantial because every such taxi that we see, we have been penalising,” said Tatke.The petitioners’ advocate Gaurav Sharma argued that bike-taxis are still plying. He said from an app on his phone “right now I can establish they are plying outside Bombay high court”. Tatke said a communication was sent to Azad Maidan police station that under the Information Technology Act they should stop the app. “The process is on. They will make sure that this is not seen on the app,” Tatke added. The judges directed the compliance report to be submitted within three weeks.
