Special Driving Licences to Run E-rickshaws

Special Driving Licences to Run E-rickshaws

NEW DELHI: Special driving licences will be required for driving battery-operated e-rickshaw across the country and these green-vehicles will have identification numbers, a final notification, issued on Wednesday with amendments in the Motor Vehicles Act aimed at re-starting the operation of E-rickshaw, said.

The Transport Ministry had come up with a draft notification suggesting amendments to pave the way for legal and safe operation of e-rickshaws not only in Delhi but the entire country on September 17.  The ministry sought suggestions from people in this regard and after going through the suggestions, have come up with final notification with amendments in Motor Vehicles Act on Wednesday.

Defining e-rickshaw as a “special purpose battery operated vehicle having three wheels, intended to provide last mile connectivity for transport of passengers for hire or reward”, the notification stated that such vehicles must not carry more than four people, excluding the driver.

The government said that such a vehicle must not carry more than four passengers, excluding the driver, and not more than 40 kg luggage in total. The net power of its motor is not more than 2,000 watt and maximum speed of the vehicle should not be more than 25 kilometre per hour, the notification stated. Transport authorities have to issue special driving licence to those operating the vehicle. “Every driving licence issued or renewed by the licensing authority to drive e-rickshaw shall be valid for a period of not more than three years from the date of issue,” the notification said.

The notification states that the Motor Vehicles Act will mention from now on “driving licence and permit in case of e-rickshaw” in Rule 56 of the Act. It also stated that the vehicles have to get fitness certificates after every three years.  “The state licensing authority will issue identification number to e-rickshaw,” the notification said.

In Delhi, the HC had put a ban on plying of e-rickshaws due to safety issues. On Monday, Kejriwal had written to transport minister Nitin Gadkari seeking immediate resolution to the issue of regularising e-rickshaws in the light of a stir proposed by e-rickshaw operators at Jantar Mantar on October 8.

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