Maharashtra Transport Minister Calls Urgent Meeting Amid Alarming Rise in Bike-Taxi Molestation Cases
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Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik has convened an emergency meeting to discuss the growing concerns of passenger safety in app-based bike taxi services. This move comes after a disturbing incident where a woman was allegedly molested by a Rapido bike rider in Kalyan. The meeting, scheduled for Wednesday, will bring together senior officials to address the legal status of app-based bike taxi services, compliance with transport regulations, and ensuring passenger safety. The discussion is expected to focus on the recent surge in such incidents, including the case where a 19-year-old Rapido bike rider attempted to rob a woman passenger at knifepoint. The accused, Siddhesh Pardeshi, has been arrested by the Mahatma Phule police in Kalyan. This incident has sparked concerns about the safety of women passengers using app-based bike taxi services. In response, the government has announced plans to launch its own app-based transport service, aimed at generating employment for the youth. However, the existing unregulated bike taxi services continue to pose a risk to passengers. In a recent crackdown, the Mumbai RTO seized 78 bike taxis operating without licenses and registered criminal cases against the drivers and operators. The government's new initiative is expected to address the concerns of passenger safety and bring much-needed regulation to the industry.
