Mayors seek L-G’s intervention for relief to e-rickshaw drivers

Mayors of all three municipal corporations in Delhi on Saturday requested L-G Najeeb Jung to urge the Delhi High Court to allow e-rickshaws to ply in the national capital while a policy is awaited for these vehicles.

Mayors of all three municipal corporations in Delhi on Saturday requested L-G Najeeb Jung to urge the Delhi High Court to allow e-rickshaws to ply in the national capital while a policy is awaited for these vehicles.

The civic body leaders proposed that, for the time being, the operation of these vehicles be brought under the purview of the civic bodies, as is the case with cycle rickshaws.

North Delhi mayor Yogender Chandolia, South Delhi Mayor Khushi Ram Chunar and East Delhi Mayor Meenakhshi met Jung today along with the Leader of the House in the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC), Subhash Arya.

Arya said that relief should be extended to e-rickshaw drivers as this has emerged as a medium of employment on which many families are dependent, according to a statement today.

Delhi High Court yesterday said that e-rickshaws will remain off the roads for now and refused Centre’s request for grant of interim permission to these for plying despite draft guidelines having already been framed for their regulation.

The regularisation of these battery-operated vehicles has been planned through the three municipal corporations, but the Centre is awaiting the court’s nod.

Union Road Transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari had yesterday said that steps will be taken to restart e-rickshaw operations in Delhi once high court gives its nod.

The HC had earlier imposed a ban on these vehicles saying they posed a public hazard.