India, June 3 -- The scheme was stayed in March 2016 by then transport minister Diwakar Raote, as it was flourishing sans regulation. "The ban was also politically motivated as operators in the Konkan were linked to Narayan Rane, then a senior Congress leader from the opposition," said a Sena leader. "Apart from the political angle, the scheme was being implemented without framing rules for renting bikes. Also, while the power to issue licences was with the additional chief secretary of the transport department, they were actually being issued at the local level by transport officers. The then minister wanted to fix these loopholes and so he stayed the scheme," said an official with the transport department. "With a change in govt, subsequently, the decision to lift the ban was delayed."...