Jaipur: App-based bike taxi and delivery services in Jaipur are set to face stricter enforcement as the transport dept prepares a crackdown on private-number two-wheelers ferrying passengers or goods for a fee.The move follows representations from ride-hailing app associations, which alleged that private bikes continue to operate illegally, undercutting riders who switched to commercial registration.Under transport rules, only commercially registered two-wheelers are allowed to carry passengers or goods for payment. However, private-number bikes continue to ply on city roads, particularly for app-based rides, food deliveries and parcel services.Dinesh Singh Fouzdar, Jaipur traffic inspector leading the enforcement drive, said violations persist as some companies allow private vehicles on their platforms, while some riders register one vehicle but use a privately registered bike for trips and deliveries.“We continuously monitor such violations. We will soon launch a crackdown against such motorists. If caught, they will have to pay a hefty penalty, which exceeds the combined cost of commercial registration, insurance and permit charges. We also seize the vehicles of repeat offenders,” Fouzdar said.Commercially registered two-wheelers attract higher registration and insurance costs than private vehicles, besides requiring periodic permit payments. Officials and industry representatives said the additional costs have created an uneven playing field.Kuldeep Singh, president of the App Cab Association in Jaipur, said a PIL filed in 2023 prompted the Rajasthan High Court to direct the state govt to take strict action against riders using private vehicles for commercial purposes. The enforcement drive continued for nearly two years, prompting many riders to switch to commercial registration before inspections slowed.“Why should some riders follow the rules and bear higher costs while others continue to earn using private number plates? The risk goes beyond penalties. If such a bike meets with an accident, insurers may reject claims of the owner, pillion rider and even third-party victims if investigations establish that the private vehicle was being used commercially,” Singh said.App-based bike riders, however, said fares have remained largely unchanged despite rising fuel prices, making commercial registration financially unviable. Amit Kumar, an app-based bike rider, said commercial registration costs around Rs 12,000-15,000, including brokerage, while annual permit and insurance expenses add another Rs 6,000-7,000, further reducing earnings.
