Pune Police Ask Google, Apple To Remove Rapido App Over Bike Taxi Row
Pune, 26th October 2026: Pune police have approached Google and Apple to remove Rapido from their app stores, escalating the crackdown on the company’s alleged unauthorised bike taxi operations despite the service continuing across the city.
Police said that communications had been sent to both platforms, following a letter from Pune collector and Regional Transport Authority (RTA) chairperson Jitendra Dudi last week seeking action against the service.
The move comes after an FIR was registered against Rapido last week. The company’s application for permission to operate bike taxis is still pending with the transport department, an RTO official said.
“Rapido has been warned of legal action for failing to comply with the norms. If it fulfils all requirements under the bike taxi policy, its application may be considered. However, its unauthorised operations could complicate the approval process,” the official said.
Despite the action, the bike taxi option remains available on Rapido’s app, with rides continuing across Pune.
The proposed crackdown has also drawn criticism from commuters, who argue that authorities should focus on regulating the service rather than shutting it down, given gaps in public transport and complaints of overcharging and misbehaviour by some autorickshaw and cab drivers.
