Delhi: E-rickshaws set to return as govt clears new norms

In a step towards bringing e-rickshaws back on Delhi roads, the Union cabinet Friday eased norms for issuing licences to drivers of the battery-operated vehicles, which were banned by the Delhi high court over safety concerns in July.

In a step towards bringing e-rickshaws back on Delhi roads, the Union cabinet Friday eased norms for issuing licences to drivers of the battery-operated vehicles, which were banned by the Delhi high court over safety concerns in July.

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Currently, despite the limited speed and power of e-rickshaws, their drivers are equated with those of commercial transport vehicles and have to wait for a year before getting their LMV licence.

Under the new norms this wait has been lifted. An e-rickshaw driver after qualifying the requisite driving test will be issued a learner’s license and will be granted a general Light Motor Vehicle (LMV) license, a mandatory requirement for driving a transport vehicle, after thirty days.

However, it will be still some time before e-rickshaw drivers can start plying on the roads again. The road transport and highways ministry will have to go to the Parliament to get section 7 (1) of the Motor Vehicle (MV) Act, 1988 amended for relaxation in norms for e-rickshaws and e-carts.

“We will introduce the amendments to the MV Act in the Parliament next week,” said a senior road ministry official.

In October, the ministry had notified the rules for plying of e-rickshaws, legalising the battery-operated three-wheeler to carry four passengers and fixing a maximum speed of 25kmph.