Now Reading: Kerala bike taxi users question legal cover, insurance after accident
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Kerala bike taxi users question legal cover, insurance after accident
Online bike taxi passengers in Kerala are questioning the legal and insurance protection available to them, with incidents of motorcycles arriving without taxi permits or yellow number plates raising safety concerns. A Kozhikode woman's accident in Bengaluru on a permit-less bike taxi has highlighted the risks passengers face.
Rapido's website states insurance coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh for passengers, but users could face difficulties if the vehicle lacks a taxi permit or proper documents. The insurance policy does not provide emergency medical assistance, leaving passengers dependent on their own coverage for treatment expenses.
Drivers have reportedly told passengers that only registration certificate, driving licence and Aadhaar card are needed, not a taxi permit. However, a taxi permit is required under law, raising questions about whether all operating bike taxis meet these requirements.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The concerns raised echo a long-standing regulatory tension in Kerala's road transport sector. The Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, clearly mandates a yellow commercial plate and a valid taxi permit for any vehicle used to carry passengers for hire. However, app-based bike taxi platforms have operated in a grey zone, with state governments hesitant to enforce the law strictly for fear of stifling innovation and last-mile connectivity. A similar ambiguity existed earlier with app-based cabs before the Kerala government mandated yellow plates and badge numbers for drivers. The real question is liability: if a bike taxi lacks a commercial permit, a standard comprehensive insurance policy may repudiate third-party or passenger claims, leaving the injured without compensation. Kerala's Motor Vehicles Department has issued show-cause notices to platforms before, but a clear regulatory framework is still pending. The next concrete signal will be whether the state government issues a formal notification classifying bike taxis under existing contract carriage rules or exempts them through a new scheme.
Source: english.mathrubhumi.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above. Methodology and corrections.
