The Maharashtra government on Thursday, 17 July 2025, formally launched the implementation of its new Aggregator Policy, mandating that all ride-hailing platforms operating in the state — including Ola, Uber, and similar services — comply with a comprehensive set of rules covering driver earnings, passenger safety, surge pricing, and local employment. Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik announced the rollout, describing it as a step toward building a 'legal, transparent and accountable framework' for app-based transport in the state.

Key Provisions of the Policy

Every aggregator company must now obtain a licence from the State Transport Authority to operate in Maharashtra. The state will simultaneously launch a dedicated online monitoring portal enabling real-time GPS tracking of vehicles, driver verification, and swift action against non-compliant operators.

On driver earnings, the policy is unambiguous: platforms must ensure drivers receive at least 80 per cent of the total fare collected. Base fares will be determined by the Regional Transport Authority (RTA), removing that discretion from the companies entirely. Surge pricing will face strict caps, preventing platforms from levying exorbitant rates during peak demand hours.

Fleet Caps and Anti-Monopoly Measures

To curb monopolistic concentration, no single operator or fleet owner may register more than 50 vehicles on a single app platform in major cities — Mumbai, Pune, Nashik, and Nagpur. In the rest of the state, that ceiling drops to 25 vehicles. The measure is aimed at preventing large fleet aggregators from dominating local markets and squeezing out smaller operators.

Passenger Safety and Women-Specific Protections

The policy introduces several safety mandates with a particular focus on women commuters. Aggregators must operate 24/7 call centres and appoint dedicated grievance redressal officers with a defined turnaround time for complaints. Drivers are prohibited from working more than 12 consecutive hours to prevent fatigue-related incidents.

For ride-pooling services, female passengers will have the exclusive option to be matched only with female drivers or female co-passengers — a first-of-its-kind provision in a state aggregator framework.

Local Employment and Language Requirements

The policy explicitly ties driver registration to local residency and language. Applicants for the mandatory commercial driver badge must furnish proof of Maharashtra domicile and demonstrate a working knowledge of colloquial Marathi. All aggregator apps and websites must be available in Marathi, Hindi, and English.

For the first time, the state has also created a legal framework for casual carpooling using private vehicles on a strictly non-profit, cost-sharing basis — a move expected to ease traffic congestion and reduce carbon emissions. The policy additionally outlines a phased push toward electric and alternative-fuel vehicles to advance sustainable urban mobility.

What the Government Said

Sarnaik underscored that commercial interests would not override regulatory compliance. 'Maharashtra welcomes businesses, but compliance with our regulations is non-negotiable,' he said. 'This policy balances driver welfare, passenger safety and local employment to build a modern, responsible and sustainable transport ecosystem.'

The policy addresses a long-standing regulatory vacuum: with millions of commuters depending on app-based transport daily, the absence of uniform rules had led to passenger safety gaps, arbitrary surge pricing, slow grievance resolution, and foregone state revenue. The new framework attempts to close all four gaps simultaneously.