File photo of an e-rickshaw driver in New Delhi.
New Delhi:
President Pranab Mukherjee has signed the ordinance on e-rickshaws which will regularise and allow them to operate in the National Capital Region (NCR).
The President signed the ordinance after consulting Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari who explained the urgency of lifting the ban on e-rickshaws in the capital.
The government in October last year had notified the rules for plying of e-rickshaws and making driver's licence mandatory for operating them.
As most of the e-rickshaw and e-cart drivers do not have a driver's licence, the existing provisions debarred them from operating e-rickshaws or e-carts for the next one year.
The government then made minor amendments to the Motor Vehicles Act, which was passed in the Lok Sabha in the current winter session, but could not be passed in the Rajya Sabha.
The new rules provide that e-rickshaws will be allowed to carry four passengers and 40 kg luggage while e-carts would transport goods up to 310 kg.
The maximum speed limit has been set at 25 kmph.