Now Reading: Maharashtra plans EV mandate, 2% welfare levy on Swiggy, Zomato
-
01
Maharashtra plans EV mandate, 2% welfare levy on Swiggy, Zomato
Maharashtra plans to bring food delivery, quick commerce and ecommerce platforms under its bike-taxi rules, proposing an electric vehicle mandate and a 2% rider welfare levy on each trip's fare. The move…
The Story in Brief
Maharashtra plans to bring food delivery, quick commerce and ecommerce platforms under its bike-taxi rules, proposing an electric vehicle mandate and a 2% rider welfare levy on each trip's fare. The move could raise compliance costs for Swiggy, Zomato, Zepto and Meesho, Inc42 reports citing The Indian Express.
The draft amendments would require GPS tracking, insurance cover and contributions to a welfare fund for driver pensions and accident cover. The proposal is under review by the state law department. Unlike bike-taxis, delivery platforms lack fixed fares, so it is unclear how the 2% levy would be calculated.
The Indian Opinion
Maharashtra's plan sounds fair on paper: gig workers need social security. But the maths is fuzzy. A 2% levy on what, the delivery fee or the order value? The state must clarify before passing the cost to riders and customers. Karnataka already faces a court challenge over a similar 1% welfare tax, with platforms arguing multiple state levies will crush margins. The real test is whether Maharashtra's proposal, once final, matches Karnataka's per-transaction cap or piles on another open-ended burden. Will the final rules say per order or per kilometre? That number will settle whether this is welfare or a stealth toll on every biryani delivered.
Source: inc42.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
