Bengaluru: Rapido has secured a five-year licence from the Karnataka State Transport Authority to operate its cab services in the state, giving the mobility platform a longer-term regulatory framework until August 2031.
The licence has been issued to Roppen Transportation Services Private Limited, the company that operates Rapido, under the Karnataka On-Demand Transportation Technology Aggregators Rules, 2016.
Rapido said the approval will provide greater stability for both its drivers, known as captains, and commuters while allowing the company to expand its cab operations across Karnataka.
Rapido Operates in 21 Karnataka Cities
According to Rapido, its services are currently available in 21 cities across Karnataka. The company claims to have more than 3.14 lakh captains and over 2.04 crore registered customers in the state.
More than 69 lakh customers have reportedly used Rapido’s cab services in Karnataka.
The company said the new licence will help it strengthen its role in the state’s urban transportation network while focusing on safety, reliability and technology-driven mobility.
Rapido Joins Karnataka’s Urban Mobility Mission
Rapido has also been included in the Urban Mobility Mission announced by the Karnataka government.
Under the initiative, the company will work with the state on areas such as commuter accessibility, urban transportation, technology adoption, safety and service reliability.
Rapido co-founder Pavan Guntupalli said Karnataka is the company’s home state and remains one of its key markets.
He said the licence would allow Rapido to expand its cab services while continuing to work closely with the Karnataka government and Transport Department.
According to Guntupalli, predictable regulations can benefit commuters, drivers, mobility platforms and the government. He added that Rapido’s focus would remain on safety, reliable services and better earning opportunities for its captains.
Rapido’s Growing Karnataka Footprint
Rapido’s operations in Karnataka cover several major and emerging mobility hubs, including Bengaluru, Mysuru, Mangaluru, Hubballi-Dharwad, Belagavi, Davangere, Shivamogga, Ballari, Kalaburagi and Tumakuru.
The five-year approval gives Rapido greater regulatory certainty as competition in India’s ride-hailing market continues to grow.
The company will now be able to operate its cab services under a clearly defined state framework through August 2031.
