Jammu, May 11: The Jammu and Kashmir Transport Department has declared that bike taxi service Rapido is operating in the Union Territory without a valid license, warning commuters and riders that they are using the service at their own risk.
Transport Commissioner Vishesh Mahajan said the department has received multiple complaints regarding the functioning of Rapido across J&K. On Sunday in a post on X, he clarified that no permission or authorization has been granted to the company to run bike taxi services in the Union Territory.
“Anybody participating in the service or using it is doing so at his/her own risk,” Mahajan stated.
The Transport Commissioner further said that directions have been issued to the concerned officers to initiate action against the “illegal service.”
Meanwhile, several auto-rickshaw unions in Jammu had recently staged protests against the operation of app-based bike taxi services, alleging that their daily income had drastically declined due to the growing popularity of Rapido among commuters. The protesting unions demanded immediate intervention from the administration and strict action against unauthorized transport services.
However, many commuters and youth associated with the platform have come out in support of Rapido, saying the service has become a convenient and affordable mode of transport, particularly for students, office-goers and people travelling short distances. A possible ban or suspension of the service could impact thousands of youths earning their livelihood through the platform.
Several passengers have also alleged that some auto-rickshaw and e-rickshaw operators charge exorbitant fares, especially during peak hours and in areas with limited public transport availability, forcing commuters to look for cheaper app-based alternatives.
The development comes amid growing debate over regulation of app-based transport services, passenger safety, livelihood concerns and fare transparency in Jammu and Kashmir.
