The ministry of road transport and highways on Monday launched a modified e-rickshaw based on the new rules notified through amendments in the Motor Vehicles Act.

“This will put an end to the practice of human beings pulling human beings. E-rickshaws will be provided at discounted rates to members of the minority community, scheduled castes and tribes and OBCs,” Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari said while unveiling the vehicle at his office complex.

The ministry cleared plying of e-rickshaws on city roads through a notification last month. 

It notified the Central Motor Vehicles (Sixteenth Amendment) Rules, 2014, which paves the way for plying of “special purpose battery operated vehicles”.

Gadkari said the new and modified set of e-rickshaws have been manufactured keeping in mind the safety parameters. “We will sort out all issues within a month related to e-rickshaws.”