Booking a cab for the airport, railway station, or hospital may now become much more reliable in Maharashtra.
The state government has introduced a new Aggregator Policy 2026 that aims to make app-based taxi services safer and reduce last-minute ride cancellations.
Under the new rules, drivers who cancel rides booked for important destinations will face much stricter penalties. The extra penalty collected from drivers will be credited directly to the passenger’s app account.
Tough Rules for Cab Drivers
Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik said the new policy is designed to give major relief to passengers, especially in cities like Mumbai. Many drivers cancel rides after seeing that the trip is short, leaving passengers stranded.
To stop this practice, the government has introduced stricter penalties for drivers who cancel bookings without a valid reason.
It expects app-based taxi services such as Ola, Uber, and Rapido to follow these rules and provide more dependable service.
The policy also says that if a driver does not reach the passenger within 10 minutes of the scheduled pickup time, the ride will be treated as cancelled and a ₹100 penalty will be charged.
New Rules for Passengers and Cab Companies
The new policy also places responsibilities on passengers. If a passenger cancels a ride without a valid reason, they will have to pay 5% of the total fare or up to ₹100, whichever is lower. This amount will be given to the driver.
For rides booked to airports, railway stations, and hospitals, the cancellation penalty for drivers can be up to five times higher than the normal penalty because these trips are considered more important.
The Maharashtra government has also introduced strict action against cab aggregator companies.
If companies repeatedly violate rules, fail to maintain safety standards, or are involved in fare-related irregularities, the government can suspend or cancel their licences.
Companies may also face fines ranging from ₹1 lakh to ₹1 crore for serious or repeated violations.
Aggregator Policy 2026 Now in Effect
The state has officially notified the Maharashtra Motor Vehicles Aggregator Rules, 2026, also known as the Aggregator Policy 2026.
The new rules are now applicable across Maharashtra and are expected to make app-based cab services more reliable, safer, and fairer for both passengers and drivers.
