Kejriwal to address rally of e-rickshaw drivers

Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal will address a rally of e-rickshaw drivers here Wednesday to demand that rules allowing the plying of battery-powered vehicles in Delhi be simplified.

The former chief minister of Delhi will meet the the drivers at Jantar Mantar Wednesday and also demand the removal of the "exorbitant fees" for the registration of e-rickshaws.

"Though the notification will allow the e-rickshaws to ply legally on Delhi roads, it is still incomplete and does not fully address the concerns of e-rickshaw drivers," the Aam Aadmi Party said in a statement here Sunday.

"Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari made very tall time-bound promises at the Ramlila Ground on June 17, and promised the Moon to e-rickshaw drivers, but miserably failed to implement any of his promises for more than three months," it added.

Last week, the government notified a separate category of battery-operated vehicles -- e-rickshaw and e-cart -- allowing them to ply in the city.

"The transport ministry has now brought the e-rickshaws under the Motor Vehicles Act, despite Gadkari having publicly stated that those with motors up to 600 watts will be exempted from the MV Act. Was he ill-informed or was the announcement made to mislead the poor drivers," the statement said.