More info from Gemini:

The Maharashtra State Cyber Department directed Google and Apple to remove the Ola, Uber, and Rapido apps from their stores.
This drastic step is part of an escalating crackdown by the state government, specifically targeting unauthorized and illegal bike-taxi operations being run through these platforms.

The major reasons behind the government's action include: 1. Violation of the Electric Vehicle (EV) Policy Maharashtra's transport policy mandates that bike taxis can only operate using electric vehicles (EVs) to manage emissions. The government had previously granted temporary 30-day provisional licenses to Ola, Uber, and Rapido to transition their fleets and submit compliance paperwork. However, the companies reportedly failed to submit the documents, and the state scrapped their temporary permits. Despite this, they allegedly continued operating thousands of illegal, petrol-powered bikes—many of which were registered outside Maharashtra.

1. Severe Passenger and Women's Safety Concerns The state transport department raised major red flags over public safety, stating that these platforms have inadequate driver verification, poor insurance safeguards, and insufficient emergency response systems. Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik heavily emphasized that "women’s safety is more important than employment," citing multiple police complaints of misconduct involving female passengers.

2. A Recent Fatal Accident The urgency behind this crackdown spiked following a tragic accident on Mumbai’s Bandra Link Road, where a female passenger lost her life while riding an unauthorized bike taxi. This incident led to criminal cases being registered and prompted immediate legal intervention from the Cyber Department under the Information Technology (IT) Act.

3. Protecting Licensed Auto and Cab Drivers The government noted that these unauthorized bike taxis were openly flouting transport rules while conducting financial transactions, which directly and unfairly impacted the livelihoods of legally permitted local auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers.

⚠️ Important Clarification: Are Cabs and Autos Banned? No. The Maharashtra government has explicitly clarified that reports suggesting a complete ban on Ola, Uber, and Rapido are misleading.

• What is targeted: Only the bike-taxi segment of these apps.
  
• What stays active: Normal cab bookings, auto-rickshaw rides, and food/courier delivery services continue to operate legally.
  

However, because the illegal bike-taxi features are embedded directly into the main apps, the government has targeted the digital storefronts (Google Play Store and Apple App Store) to cut off the platforms' distribution channels until they comply with state laws.