Rapido has secured a five-year licence to operate cab services in Karnataka, giving the mobility platform regulatory approval to continue its four-wheeler operations in the state until August 2031. The licence has been granted by the Karnataka State Transport Authority (KSTA) under the Karnataka On-Demand Transportation Technology Aggregators Rules, 2016.
The licence is significant for Rapido as Karnataka is its home state and one of its major markets. The company said the approval will provide greater certainty for its drivers, or “captains”, and customers while allowing it to scale its cab services within the state’s regulatory framework.
Rapido, operated by Roppen Transportation Services Pvt Ltd, currently has a presence across 21 cities in Karnataka.
According to company figures cited by Moneycontrol, the platform has more than 3.14 lakh captains and 2.04 crore registered customers in the state. More than 69 lakh customers in Karnataka have used Rapido for cab rides so far.
The new licence formalises Rapido’s cab operations under the state’s existing aggregator rules and gives the company a defined regulatory framework for the next five years.
Alongside the licence, Rapido has also been included in the Karnataka government’s Urban Mobility Mission.
As part of the initiative, the company said it will work with the government on areas including commuter access, technology integration, safety, service reliability and earning opportunities for captains.
Pavan Guntupalli, Co-founder of Rapido, described Karnataka as the company’s home state and an important mobility market, adding that the licence would allow Rapido to strengthen its cab offering while continuing to work with the government and transport authorities.
The approval comes at an important time for Rapido as it continues to build its presence in the cab-hailing segment, where it competes with established players such as Ola and Uber.
The company’s origins are closely associated with bike taxis, but its cab business has become an increasingly important part of its mobility offering. The Karnataka licence provides longer-term regulatory certainty for this segment in one of its largest markets.
For Rapido, the five-year licence therefore marks a significant step in strengthening its four-wheeler business while giving the company a clearer regulatory runway in Karnataka through 2031.
FAQs
- Has Rapido received a cab licence in Karnataka?
Yes. Rapido has received a five-year licence from the Karnataka State Transport Authority to operate cab services in the state. - How long is Rapido’s Karnataka cab licence valid?
The licence is valid until August 2031. - Under which rules was Rapido’s licence issued?
The licence was issued under the Karnataka On-Demand Transportation Technology Aggregators Rules, 2016. - How many cities does Rapido operate in Karnataka?
Rapido currently operates across 21 cities in Karnataka, according to company figures. - Does the new licence legalise Rapido bike taxis in Karnataka?
No. The new licence specifically covers cab services. The regulatory status of bike taxis is a separate issue.
