E-rickshaws to be back soon; govt approves changes in law

Paving the way for return of e-rickshaws on roads of the National Capital, the Cabinet on Friday approved amendments to the Motor Vehicle Act that will ease the norms for obtaining a licence to drive the battery operated vehicles.

The e-rickshaws had gone off road after the Delhi High Court banned plying of these vehicles on safety concerns.

The approved changes, which also include adding definition of e-rickshaws and e-carts to the Act, will help these vehicles get the legal status.

This will also help drivers of these vehicles get a licence without mandatory one-year period of holding a licence to drive light motor vehicles

. "The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, today gave its approval for a proposal to remove difficulties in granting licence to the drivers of the e-rickshaws and e-carts by amending the Section 7 (1) of Motor Vehicle Act, 1988, and adding the definition of e-rickshaw and e-cart under the Act," an official statement said.

A week ago the Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari had announced that a Bill to solve issues like commercial licences for e-rickshaw drivers would be introduced in the current session of Parliament.

Under the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988, no person can be granted a learner's license to drive a transport vehicle, unless he has held a driving license for a period of at least one year to drive a light motor vehicle.

The statement said the present approval was given to remove the clause as most of the e-rickshaws and e-carts drivers do not have any licence and the the existing provision will debar them from operating e-rickshaw/ e-cart for the next one year.

"In order to remove this difficulty, and facilitate plying of e-rickshaw and e-carts, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has proposed to amend Section 7(1) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, which will give relaxation to e-rickshaw and e-cart drivers only," the statement said.