Private motorcycle owners will soon be able to hire out their bikes to app based taxi and delivery services under revised Motor Vehicles Aggregator Guidelines issued by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH).

The updated framework allows state governments to authorise the use of non transport motorcycles for passenger journeys and hyper local deliveries, effectively legalising bike taxi services that have expanded rapidly across India. MoRTH says the change should cut congestion and emissions while widening affordable travel and creating new income streams.

States and union territories have three months to adopt the rules. A central online portal will provide single window clearance for aggregator licences, handling applications, fees and security deposits. Until the portal is operational, state authorities will process applications under the same guidelines.

Firms such as Rapido, Ola and Uber are expected to scale their two wheeler offerings in regions that opt in. Aggregators must follow fresh compliance norms on driver vetting and vehicle engagement, and must maintain a public website listing ownership, registered address, fare structure, customer care contacts and services offered.

MoRTH describes the approach as a “light touch” regime that balances user safety and driver welfare while keeping regulation in step with the fast moving shared mobility market.