Babu Lal, an e-rickshaw driver in New Delhi
E-rickshaws may soon be back on Delhi's roads. The Lok Sabha today passed amendments to the archaic Motor Vehicle Act (MVA) to allow for thousands of battery-operated rickshaws to come back on the streets of the national capital.
Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari today informed the Lok Sabha that the livelihood of thousands of people depended on the e-rickshaws which are now being manufactured in India. Describing them as "eco-friendly," Mr Gadkari said that the amendment to the act will allow e-rickshaw drivers to get a license after a ten-day training session and in a month instead of the minimum 1 year.
Almost 5 months ago, the Delhi High court had banned e-rickshaws from Delhi's roads following a spate of accidents. The court had asked the government to come out with a clear policy and regulation for the rickshaws.
Interestingly, the amendments come even as road safety campaigners try and rally support for the introduction of a comprehensive law that seeks to replace the existing act which was last amended ten years ago.
"We haven't seen amendments to the MVA for decades. I am surprised why the new bill has not been brought to Parliament especially as it has provisions which will ensure better regulation of all modes of transport on roads including e-rickshaws," said Piyush Tewari, founder of SaveLifeFoundation.
"The fact is that the amendment does not look at insurance in which case those sitting in the rickshaws and other road users may be at risk as there is no insurance cover for them," adds Mr Tiwari who had taken a petition signed by more than 2 lakh citizens to the PM's office a fortnight ago seeking the new bill.
But there are others like Babu Lal who can't wait to get his e-rickshaw back on the roads. A day wager, Mr Lal who lives in a shanty in Delhi's Paharganj, had bought 2 e-rickshaws after taking a loan. In the past 5 months, he has had no earning. Recently, thieves had made off with the battery of one of his vehicles. Now, he and his wife take turns to sleep to ensure thieves don't strike again.