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Sanjay Dutt sparks digital push with Getepay’s Vega
MUMBAI: He’s known for power-packed performances, now Sanjay Dutt is helping power Digital Bharat. The Hindi cinema icon unveiled Vega, an indigenously built payment switch by Getepay, at an event in Mumbai, joining forces with Getepay founder and managing director Pravin Sharma, to celebrate a major stride in India’s fintech innovation.
Headquartered in Jaipur, Getepay is a payment aggregator on a mission to make digital transactions simpler, faster, and more inclusive. Its latest creation, Vega, is a certified next-generation payment switch designed to serve banks, fintechs, and merchants with seamless scalability and security. Built on a microservices-based architecture, Vega promises lightning-fast processing, real-time settlements, automated reconciliation, and intelligent merchant management, all crafted in India, for India.
Speaking at the launch, Sanjay Dutt said, “I’ve always believed in backing things that are real, solid, and made with heart, and that’s exactly what Vega is. This is about more than technology; it’s about giving every entrepreneur, from a street vendor to a shop owner, the confidence to go digital. That’s the Bharat I want to cheer for.”
Pravin Sharma added, “Vega is not just a technological leap, it’s a bridge for millions of small entrepreneurs powering India’s economy. With Vega, we’re simplifying digital payments while enabling every corner of India to participate confidently in the digital revolution.”
With its regulatory-compliant, future-ready design, Vega ensures secure, uninterrupted payment processing even during high-traffic periods. Its scalable framework allows banks and merchants to modernise swiftly without disrupting business operations.
Following an 8 million dollars funding round led by Virender Sehwag, alongside Hyderabad Angels, ITI Growth Fund, and DBR Ventures, Getepay continues to strengthen its digital infrastructure, driving financial inclusion and accessibility for businesses of all sizes.
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Maharashtra revokes Ola, Uber, Rapido bike taxi licences
Temporary e-bike taxi permits cancelled as firms fail to meet state rules
MUMBAI: Maharashtra’s roads are set to see fewer zipping two-wheelers after the state government pulled the plug on provisional licences granted to bike taxi giants Ola, Uber and Rapido. Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik announced in the Legislative Council on Monday that temporary permissions would be revoked.
“These companies were given permission for just a month and were required to submit certain documents. Since they have not complied, their temporary licences are cancelled. This is to ensure illegal bikes do not operate on our roads,” Sarnaik said.
The move follows the Maharashtra E Bike Taxi Rules 2024, designed to generate employment for local youth and offer commuters a cheaper, greener ride option. The rules, approved in August 2024, allow electric bike taxis in cities with over one lakh residents.
Under the policy, only electric vehicles can ply as taxis, and operators had 30 days to fulfil licensing and compliance requirements. Yet, officials claim many continued operations without meeting these conditions. Sarnaik added that a large number of bike taxis currently running in Mumbai and the wider Mumbai Metropolitan Region are illegal.
In a firm enforcement twist, the government has instructed authorities to focus on vehicle owners rather than riders when registering cases. Safety concerns, particularly for women passengers, and accident complaints have also been flagged by the transport department.
Since April 2024, Regional Transport Offices have taken action against 130 non-compliant bike taxis, collecting fines exceeding Rs 33 lakh. Authorities say further measures will follow to ensure services adhere to regulations before returning to city streets.
Maharashtra’s bike taxi saga has been a rollercoaster. Initially banned in January 2023 due to concerns over private vehicles ferrying passengers, the sector was later formalised through an electric bike framework in 2024. Provisional licences were granted in 2025, but the government now warns that any bike taxi operating on city roads without proper permits will be considered illegal.
Adding to the transport shake-up, the government has also halted the issuance of new auto rickshaw permits from March 9 to ease urban traffic pressures and safeguard livelihoods of existing drivers. A fresh standard operating procedure for future permits is set to go before the state cabinet soon.
Maharashtra commuters may have to find alternative rides as the state reins in its two-wheeled taxi revolution, leaving app-based bikers in a legal limbo.
