Rapido gets 5-year licence for cab services in Karnataka, valid till August 2031
Bengaluru, August 13
Rapido has received a five-year licence from the Karnataka State Transport Authority for its cab services in the state, valid until August 2031, giving the mobility platform a longer-term regulatory framework for its operations in its home market.
Roppen Transportation Services Private Limited, which operates Rapido, said the licence has been issued under the Karnataka On-Demand Transportation Technology Aggregators Rules, 2016.
The company said the licence will provide greater continuity to its captains and commuters while allowing it to expand its cab services within the state's regulatory framework.
Rapido currently operates across 21 cities in Karnataka, supporting more than 3.14 lakh captains and over 2.04 crore registered customers, according to the company. More than 69 lakh customers in the state have taken cab rides through the platform.
The company said the licence will strengthen its ability to support Karnataka's urban transport ecosystem, with a focus on safe, reliable and technology-enabled mobility.
Rapido said it has also been made part of the Urban Mobility Mission announced by the Karnataka government, through which it will work with the state on priorities including commuter access, urban travel, technology integration, safety and service reliability.
Pavan Guntupalli, Co-founder, Rapido, said the licence would allow the company to strengthen its cab offering while continuing to work with the Karnataka government and Transport Department.
"Karnataka is our home state and one of our most important markets," Guntupalli said, adding that the company aims to operate in full compliance with the state framework.
He said clear and predictable regulation benefits commuters, captains, platforms and the government, while Rapido's priority would remain safety, service reliability and earning opportunities for captains.
Rapido said its presence spans major and emerging mobility centres including Bengaluru, Mysuru, Mangaluru, Hubballi-Dharwad, Belagavi, Davangere, Shivamogga, Ballari, Kalaburagi and Tumakuru.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Good to see Rapido getting a long-term licence. But I hope they focus more on driver welfare - many captains I've spoken to complain about low earnings and long working hours. The Urban Mobility Mission partnership sounds promising, but ground-level implementation matters more. Let's see how it actually improves things for both drivers and passengers.
As someone who recently moved to Bengaluru for work, this is great news! Rapido has been a lifesaver for getting around the city. The 5-year licence means they'll keep investing in safety and tech. Also, being part of the Urban Mobility Mission could really help with Bengaluru's traffic issues. Keep it up!
5 years is a good period for them to settle and plan properly. But I wonder if the state actually enforces the rules properly. I've had instances where Rapido cabs showed up with different vehicles than what was booked. Need stricter checks on background verification of captains. Otherwise, good move overall.
As a woman who travels alone often, safety is my top priority. Rapido has decent safety features like SOS and ride tracking. With this 5-year licence, I hope they'll invest more in women's safety measures, especially for night rides. Also glad they're working with the state on urban mobility - Bengaluru desperately needs better transport solutions! 💪
Good to see a Bengaluru-born company getting regulatory support. The numbers are quite impressive - 2 crore registered customers in the state! This long-term licence will definitely help Rapido compete better with other cab aggregators. Excited to see what they do with the Urban Mobility Mission integration.
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