New scheme paves way for e-rickshaws comeback in New Delhi

The Delhi government on Tuesday notified the new e-rickshaw Sewa Scheme, paving the way for the battery-operated vehicles to ply in the national capital.

This move comes after the Union Cabinet approved the promulgation of an ordinance as a bill pertaining to regulation of battery operated vehicles on December 24.

According to the transport department, e-rickshaws will now be registered as transport vehicles under registration series DL-1ER and granted contract carriage permits without fare meter.

Under the new scheme, e-rickshaws should have seating capacity of four persons, excluding the driver, with maximum luggage weight of 40 kg.

After the bill was passed, Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari said that motion shall work for the welfare and livelihood of those who had been forced out of jobs after the Delhi High Court had banned the plying of e-rickshaws.

Gadkari further stated that all safety measures, including the standardisation of the design of e-rickshaws have already been addressed in the bill.

Following a series of accidents, the court on July 31 had banned the plying of e-rickshaws in the national capital, citing safety reasons.