After fuel price hike, state to allow carpooling apps & shared autorickshaws to operate

Pune: Carpooling apps, ride-sharing platforms and shared autorickshaws would soon operate in the state, courtesy fuel price hike.

“Carpooling services were not permitted in the state until now. But it has become important in the current situation and the government is positive about allowing it,” state transport minister Pratap Sarnaik told TOI on Friday.

The minister said his department received a directive to prepare a detailed proposal and rules to introduce carpooling apps, ride-sharing platforms and shared autorickshaws in Maharashtra. He said the rising fuel prices prompted the move.

Sources in the transport department said the details would be finalised soon.

Residents and commuters welcomed the move, especially in cities like Pune, where worsening traffic and inadequate public transport forced them towards alternative travel options. Ashwin Dixit, a bank employee from NIBM Road, said he was surprised that carpooling was still not allowed in Maharashtra.

“Worldwide, governments encourage carpooling because it reduces traffic and fuel consumption. The state should support such platforms, especially in Pune, considering the traffic situation and poor public transport,” he said.

A senior official from the Pune Regional Transport Office (RTO) said carpooling platforms would currently be allowed to operate and no action would be taken against them.

“Last year, the RTO acted against some aggregators offering carpooling services and even formed a special squad to monitor them. But the present condition does not allow penal action against these. Our teams will continue to monitor the activities, but aggregators can operate for now,” the official said.

Commuters claimed that several such services continued functioning in Pune despite earlier restrictions. Nayana Anand, a Delhi-based professional, said she recently used a carpooling app while travelling from Pune to Ahmednagar.

“I have used these apps multiple times whenever I am in Pune. I don’t think the RTO is monitoring these strictly,” she said.

Many commuters were particularly enthusiastic about the proposal to introduce shared autorickshaws. Shantanu Padhi, a student from Kalyaninagar, said shared autos were common in many north Indian cities and helped passengers save money.

“If the government implements this here, it will be a major relief. Fuel prices are high, while salaries do not increase as per the inflation,” he said.