Bihar’s Transport Department has directed app-based transport aggregators, including Ola, Uber, Rapido and Sawari Mithila, to improve service transparency, passenger convenience and driver support. The state has warned that companies failing to comply with its directions could face licence cancellation.
The action follows a review meeting chaired by Transport Department Secretary Raj Kumar in Patna. Ola and Uber have received show-cause notices and must submit compliance reports by October 30, 2026. The requirements cover fare disclosures, complaint handling, local offices, commercial vehicle eligibility, driver account suspensions and airport parking. The government is also exploring the expansion of ambulance-booking services through aggregator platforms.
Key Takeaways
- Licence warning: Bihar has warned that non-compliant aggregator companies could lose their licences.
- October 30 deadline: Ola and Uber must submit compliance reports by October 30, 2026.
- Clearer charges: Companies must improve transparency around night charges and ride-cancellation fees.
- Hindi and English support: Aggregators have been instructed to provide bilingual chatbots and call support for drivers.
- Commercial vehicles only: Platforms must onboard vehicles that meet the applicable commercial vehicle requirements.
- Fair driver treatment: Companies must establish a standard operating procedure for suspending driver IDs.
- Ambulance booking: The state has asked companies to submit a report within one week on expanding emergency ambulance services through their platforms.
Why Has Bihar Issued Directions to Ola, Uber and Rapido?
The Bihar Transport Department is seeking tighter compliance with rules governing app-based cab and bike-taxi services. Officials reviewed the companies’ responses to earlier instructions and identified areas where further improvements were required.
According to The Times of India, the meeting focused on passenger convenience, driver grievances and regulatory compliance. The department also examined reports submitted by aggregator companies.
Ola and Uber were issued show-cause notices and instructed to submit compliance reports by October 30. A show-cause notice gives a company an opportunity to respond to the concerns raised by the authority; it does not mean that its licence has already been cancelled.
The government has indicated that it will monitor implementation, verify compliance where necessary and take further action if companies fail to meet the prescribed requirements.
Eight Major Areas Where Aggregators Must Improve
The department has outlined a set of operational requirements aimed at improving the experience of passengers and drivers using app-based transport services.
| Requirement | What companies have been asked to do |
|---|---|
| Local offices | Establish offices in Bihar to improve coordination and complaint resolution |
| Driver support | Provide call-support facilities to address drivers’ complaints |
| Bilingual chatbots | Offer chatbot services in Hindi and English |
| Passenger information | Increase the display duration of broadcast messages from two seconds to 10 seconds |
| Fare transparency | Clearly communicate night charges and ride-cancellation fees |
| Driver ID suspensions | Develop a standard operating procedure that follows principles of natural justice |
| Vehicle eligibility | Attach only vehicles meeting applicable commercial vehicle requirements |
| Airport parking | Coordinate with the Airport Authority to identify suitable parking areas for aggregator vehicles |
These requirements address several common problems associated with app-based transportation. Customers need to understand the charges attached to a ride, while drivers need accessible channels for resolving disputes and obtaining support.
The measures also seek to make information displayed through the platforms easier to understand. Extending the duration of broadcast messages from two seconds to 10 seconds is intended to give users more time to read important information.
Ola and Uber Face an October 30 Compliance Deadline
Ola and Uber have been asked to submit reports detailing their compliance with the department’s directions by October 30, 2026.
The deadline gives the companies a short period to demonstrate the steps they have taken to meet the requirements. Officials can then review the reports and determine whether further verification or enforcement action is necessary.
The warning about licence cancellation applies to failure to follow prescribed directions. It should not be interpreted as confirmation that either company has already lost its operating licence.
The department has also directed Rapido and Sawari Mithila to comply with the relevant requirements. The companies operate in a market where service availability, fare transparency and driver support can affect both customer experience and platform reliability.
The coming days will be important for determining what corrective measures the companies report and whether the department considers them sufficient.
Greater Transparency Around Night Charges and Cancellation Fees
Night charges and ride-cancellation fees are among the areas the transport department has asked aggregators to review.
For passengers, unclear fees can make it difficult to understand the final cost of a journey or determine why a fare has changed. Clearer disclosures can help customers make informed decisions before confirming a booking.
Cancellation fees are also relevant to drivers, who may lose time and income when a passenger cancels a trip. However, any fee structure needs to be communicated clearly so that passengers and drivers understand when charges apply.
The department’s instructions emphasize clarity and compliance with applicable rules. They do not, by themselves, establish a new uniform fare or cancellation-fee schedule across all platforms.
For companies, the challenge will be to make pricing information easy to locate and understand within their apps while ensuring that their systems follow the relevant regulatory requirements.
Hindi Chatbots and Dedicated Driver Support
Bihar has directed the companies to offer chatbot facilities in both Hindi and English. The move is intended to help passengers and drivers access information and resolve service-related problems in languages they understand.
The department has also asked aggregators to establish call-support systems for drivers. This could provide an additional channel for reporting problems that are difficult to resolve through automated chat interfaces.
Local offices are another part of the plan. Having a physical presence in Bihar could help companies coordinate with transport officials and respond to complaints within the state.
The effectiveness of these measures will depend on how quickly the companies respond to complaints, whether support is available when needed and whether users can escalate unresolved issues.
New Rules for Driver ID Suspensions
The transport department has asked companies to prepare a standard operating procedure, or SOP, governing the suspension of driver IDs.
A suspension can prevent a driver from accepting rides through a platform, potentially affecting their income. The department wants the procedure to follow the principles of natural justice, which broadly require fair treatment when decisions affect a person’s interests.
A clear process could specify how drivers are informed of allegations, how they can explain their position and how decisions are reviewed. The exact procedure will depend on the rules and policies ultimately adopted.
For aggregators, the requirement highlights the importance of balancing passenger safety and platform integrity with fair treatment of drivers. Transparent processes can also help reduce disputes over account suspensions.
Commercial Vehicles and Airport Parking Under Review
The department has instructed companies to attach only vehicles that meet the applicable commercial vehicle requirements. This is intended to ensure that vehicles operating through the platforms satisfy the rules governing their use.
The distinction matters because registering a vehicle on an app does not automatically establish that it meets every regulatory requirement for commercial passenger transport.
The government has also asked aggregators to complete the process of signing a memorandum of understanding with the Airport Authority to identify designated parking areas for their vehicles.
Airport parking arrangements could help reduce confusion over where app-based cabs should wait for passengers or pick them up. The practical impact will depend on the locations identified and how the arrangements are implemented.
Bihar Also Explores Ambulance Booking Through Aggregator Apps
Alongside the compliance measures, Bihar is considering expanding emergency ambulance services through app-based transport platforms.
The Transport Department has asked the companies to submit a report on the proposal within one week. The aim is to explore whether digital platforms could make ambulance services easier to access.
The proposal is still at the planning stage. The announcement does not confirm a launch date, the participating ambulance operators, the pricing model or how emergency requests would be prioritized.
If implemented, the service would need to account for requirements that differ significantly from ordinary cab bookings, including vehicle suitability, medical equipment, emergency response coordination and the availability of trained personnel.
The proposal could broaden the role of transport aggregators beyond routine passenger journeys, but its effectiveness will depend on the operational and safety arrangements put in place.
The Bigger Picture
Bihar’s directions reflect a broader regulatory challenge as app-based transport becomes an established part of urban mobility. Aggregator platforms connect passengers and drivers through digital systems, but regulators must still address the practical issues of pricing disclosures, vehicle eligibility, complaints and fair operating procedures.
The state’s approach combines compliance deadlines with operational changes intended to improve service quality. The outcome will depend on whether companies make meaningful changes and whether officials consistently verify the reported improvements. Licence cancellation remains a potential enforcement measure, not an outcome that has already occurred.
FAQs
1. Why has the Bihar government warned Ola, Uber and Rapido?
The Transport Department wants app-based transport aggregators to improve transparency, driver support, passenger information and compliance with applicable vehicle and operating rules. Failure to follow the directions could lead to further action, including licence cancellation.
2. What is the deadline for Ola and Uber?
Ola and Uber have been directed to submit compliance reports by October 30, 2026, after receiving show-cause notices.
3. What changes must the aggregator companies make?
The directions cover local offices in Bihar, Hindi and English chatbots, driver call support, clearer fare and cancellation information, longer broadcast messages, fair procedures for driver ID suspensions, eligible commercial vehicles and airport parking arrangements.
4. Has Bihar cancelled the licences of Ola or Uber?
No licence cancellation is confirmed in the reports. The companies have been asked to respond to show-cause notices and demonstrate compliance. Cancellation has been cited as a possible consequence of failing to follow the directions.
5. Will users be able to book ambulances through Ola, Uber or Rapido?
Bihar is exploring ambulance services through aggregator platforms and has asked companies to submit a report within one week. A confirmed launch date and operational details have not yet been announced.
Looking Ahead
The immediate milestone is October 30, when Ola and Uber must submit their compliance reports. The Transport Department’s subsequent review should clarify whether the companies have addressed the outstanding requirements or whether further regulatory action is needed. Rapido and Sawari Mithila will also need to comply with the directions applicable to their services.
Over the longer term, the effectiveness of the measures will depend on their implementation. Clearer pricing, accessible complaint channels and fair driver procedures could improve the experience of using app-based transport, while the proposed ambulance-booking initiative will require additional planning before it can become an operational service.
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