Cabinet clears amendment for plying e-rickshaws

The Union Cabinet on Friday approved an amendment in the Motor Vehicles Act to relax norms for e-rickshaw drivers.

Safety concerns had prompted the Delhi High Court to ban them and the issue had taken political overtones. The amendment will now go to Parliament for approval.

Under the Act, no person can be granted a learner’s licence to drive a transport vehicle, unless he has held the driving licence for a period of at least one year.

As most of the e-rickshaw and e-cart drivers do not have any licence, the existing provisions debar them from operating these for one year.

In order to remove this difficulty and facilitate plying of e-rickshaw and e-carts, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways had proposed to amend the Act. The amendment will provide relaxation to e-rickshaw and e-cart drivers only.

In addition, the definition of e-rickshaw and e-cart has been included under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.

E-Rickshaws and e-Carts provide affordable and clean last mile connectivity in the transport system.

The Delhi High Court had on July 31 banned plying of e-rickshaws on the roads of the national capital saying “prima facie, they are a hazard to other traffic as well as citizens”.

Indian Trusts Bill
The Cabinet also cleared for introduction in Parliament a Bill providing greater autonomy and flexibility to trustees in taking investment decisions on trust money. The Indian Trusts (Amendment) Bill, 2014, will be introduced in the current session of Parliament to amend section 20 and 20A of the Indian Trusts Act, 1882, an official statement said.

Bill on environment
The Cabinet decided to withdraw a Bill on the environment following the report of a committee which recommended the legislation be brought afresh. Sources said the Bill could be brought to Parliament after incorporating relevant suggestions made by the  high-level government panel headed by former cabinet secretary T S R Subramanian.