Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Sunday said bike taxi services could become a major source of employment generation in India and expressed confidence that the model would eventually be adopted nationwide.
Addressing an event in Nagpur, Gadkari said he had advocated more than a decade ago for policy changes that would allow owners of private two-wheelers and cars to convert their vehicles into commercial ones through commercial registration and operate them via aggregator platforms.
The move, he said, has created livelihood opportunities for millions of young people across the country. “I am happy that one decision has created employment opportunities for 3.5 crore youngsters,” Gadkari said, adding that bike taxi operators can earn nearly Rs 25,000 per month.
Referring to recent developments in Maharashtra, Gadkari said Minister of State Ashish Jaiswal had informed him that the state approved bike taxi services during the ongoing Assembly session. While several states have already implemented such services and others are yet to introduce them, he said efforts would be made to promote the model across the country.
The Union minister also highlighted the example of a Bengaluru-based ride-hailing platform that charges drivers a nominal monthly fee of Rs 25 instead of deducting a commission of 20 to 25 per cent on every ride, enabling drivers to retain a larger share of their income.
Emphasising the importance of entrepreneurship and independent livelihoods, Gadkari said creating self-employment opportunities is crucial as conventional jobs alone cannot meet the aspirations of the country’s growing workforce.
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